What do you do when you come to a fork in the road and have to choose which direction to go? How do you find God’s will when there is no map?

Just before he led the Jews into the land God had promised them, Joshua challenged the leaders: “You’re standing at a fork in the road. God has called you this far, and He is calling you onward, but from now on, the paths might not be marked as clearly, and there is no map.

Joshua can’t give these guys a map for the future, so instead, he gives them a lens, of sorts—a way to choose the best path when they come to these “fork in the road” moments: “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15)

Is that confusing? You probably don’t usually read those verses as “Here’s the key to finding God’s will” verses. But indulge me. You see, we tend to think of God’s will as a plan to be discovered. We search the Bible for hidden clues. We pray for revelation. We keep our eyes open for signs in the atmosphere. “God, if it’s your will, make a butterfly land on my nose right now.”

Certainly, God can do that. (And sometimes He DOES that. He sends the butterfly). But more often than not, God’s will is not a mysterious plan that needs to be revealed. He doesn’t let you see that much at one time. Instead, God’s will for you is all about the one thing you can see—the next step. God wants you to move closer to him, one step at a time, one choice at a time, day-by-day, year-by-year.

It’s only later, when you look back, that you can see how far you have come. Today, you can only see one step at a time—one ordinary, seemingly small step at a time: where to invest your time; where to spend your money; how to relate with the people around you. Each decision moves you closer, or further, from God.

That’s why finding God’s will is less about discovering a “plan” and more about adopting a mindset: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. That’s the lens. That’s the test. Apply to that every decision you make, big or small, and you can’t go wrong.

Back in 2017, when wildfires devoured block after block of California (like they did this year), residents had 15 minutes or less to grab what they needed.

There was a fascinating news story in the Los Angeles Times that studied their choices: A musician opted for the violin. A golfer grabbed his clubs. A bride-to-be remembered her dress. Many dived for the practical—toiletries and clothes. Others fumbled through boxes and old photo albums, desperate to save memories.

At least one man, 57-year-old Michael Dornbach, died refusing to leave something behind. “I’m not leaving without my truck,” he told his nephew, who begged him to flee without it.

Every time we come to a moment of decision, in a way, we reveal our hearts—what we prioritize—what we serve. Go back to Joshua 24:15. Joshua said, If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves whom you will serve. You’ll serve someone. If not the Lord, who? 

Sometimes the values that we reveal in those moments don’t match the values we think we hold. Does that make sense? For instance, I doubt Michael Dornbach would have admitted to loving his truck so much that he was willing to die for it… but his choice revealed his heart. 

If you could look back on the choices you have made over the past ten years and connect the dots, you might be surprised at the picture that would form. You would see where you get your security. You would see where you find your personal worth. You would see what moves your emotions, what dominates your time, and money, and thought-life.

The things that have driven your path might not be the things you intended to drive your path, but make no mistake – the sum of your decisions led somewhere. That’s the reason so many of us wind up somewhere we never intended to be, then look around and say, “How did I get here?” The answer: one step at a time.

 Now, if you’re with me, let’s go back to that fork in the road. How do you know what to do? Well, you have to make a choice before you make the choice!

 In Joshua 24:15, Joshua says, “Choose for yourself whom you will serve. As for me, I serve the Lord.” In this verse, Joshua isn’t just expressing his theology; he is choosing a path. He is saying, “Every time I come to a fork in the road, here is the deciding factor: “I choose to serve the Lord, and no matter what I see or how I feel, I’ll obey Him and serve him. 

 For Joshua, walking with God wasn’t a scavenger hunt for hidden signs; it was a day-by-day picture of obedience. That was his litmus test for every decision. I serve God. Does either path compromise that? Does either path tempt me, or endanger me, or worse yet, violate what God has already told me in His word? I’m walking with Him, so I need to stay close to Him, one decision at a time. 

 You see, the beginning of a daily walk with God is simple obedience. It’s valuing what God values and serving sacrificially and responding to people and situations like Jesus, even when you don’t feel like it. Each decision moves you closer to Him, until one day you’ll look back and see how far he has taken you. 

FINAL WORD:

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.

REFLECT:

Prayerfully consider one habit or routine that needs to be adopted, changed, replaced, or deleted from your life that will move you closer to God.  Write it in your journal, and be prepared to share what you have written with at least one other person who can hold you strategically accountable.