How to know God's will

[NewCreation435]

"Romans 12:1-2 tells us the steps of how to know God's will for your life: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

The very first verse in this passage tells us we are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. A sacrifice was a very common part of worship among the Old Testament Israelites. Sacrifices were offered to God for a variety of reasons, but the sacrifice must contain blood. Is it any wonder, then, that the ultimate sacrifice which was Jesus on the cross, would naturally shed blood for the atonement of sins? Because He offered His body as a sacrificial offering for the reconciliation between God and the children of God, we too should offer our bodies as a sacrifice. He showered His mercy upon us by giving us His Son."

the above is from the web site
https://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/how-to-know-gods-will-for-your-life-faq.htm

Besides reading God's word, going to church or prayer is there any other ways we renew our minds? How do we make sure that we are not conforming to this world?
What does that mean to you?

I always tell people that one of the most powerful things we have is our thoughts. With them we can make ourselves sick or build ourselves up. We can by what we focus on accept and believe God's truth or by ignoring God's word end up believing Satan's lies. The world has a multitude of lies that it tells us, constantly seeking to get us as believers to believe the world's definition of success, popular and good. But, the world system is distorted and perverted and we have to be wise as christians to recognize it.

 

[MennoSota]

"Romans 12:1-2 tells us the steps of how to know God's will for your life: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

The very first verse in this passage tells us we are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. A sacrifice was a very common part of worship among the Old Testament Israelites. Sacrifices were offered to God for a variety of reasons, but the sacrifice must contain blood. Is it any wonder, then, that the ultimate sacrifice which was Jesus on the cross, would naturally shed blood for the atonement of sins? Because He offered His body as a sacrificial offering for the reconciliation between God and the children of God, we too should offer our bodies as a sacrifice. He showered His mercy upon us by giving us His Son."

the above is from the web site
https://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/how-to-know-gods-will-for-your-life-faq.htm

Besides reading God's word, going to church or prayer is there any other ways we renew our minds? How do we make sure that we are not conforming to this world?
What does that mean to you?

I always tell people that one of the most powerful things we have is our thoughts. With them we can make ourselves sick or build ourselves up. We can by what we focus on accept and believe God's truth or by ignoring God's word end up believing Satan's lies. The world has a multitude of lies that it tells us, constantly seeking to get us as believers to believe the world's definition of success, popular and good. But, the world system is distorted and perverted and we have to be wise as christians to recognize it.

Why is the "therefore" there for, jsimms?
Something Paul tells us earlier causes him to start verse 1 with the word "therefore." What is Paul referring back to when he writes what he does in Romans 12:1-2?

 

[Josiah]

"Make SURE"..... that's a tough one.

 

[Lamb]

God’s will is done when he breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.
[Small Catechism: Lord’s Prayer; Third Petition]

 

[MennoSota]

God’s will is done when he breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.
[Small Catechism: Lord’s Prayer; Third Petition]

This comes off as God being reactionary to the unknown plans of the devil. If God is fully Sovereign, is he one who reacts?
Perhaps I am perceiving the sentence incorrectly.

 

[Kaynil]

I think to be able to know and discern for God's will in our lives it is imperative we keep nurturing a relationship with Him. We need to keep reading his Holy Words and talking to him in prayer and try to get to know Him so we can identify easier when something the world is telling us, even if at a surface level seems to be truth, we can see the layers and realize that it might be misguided. I think it is good to try to find people that also have experiences that can help you gain more perspective and put you in the right path to enrich and understand better what it is expected of us. I am still far and I know I have ideas that are probably misguided so it is good joining a community like this one where I can get to see the different angles people bring and how they tie together with God's message.

 

[Lamb]

This comes off as God being reactionary to the unknown plans of the devil. If God is fully Sovereign, is he one who reacts?
Perhaps I am perceiving the sentence incorrectly.

Except it doesn't say that God does not know the plans of the devil.