What should I study? Where should I live and what type of job should I get? Should I marry that person, have kids, take that extra class, or move to a new city or country? These are common questions that people have and they seek God for His direction when trying to determine His will. I know I’ve asked God a few of these questions, and other more specific ones. However, when trying to determine the best path of life, it’s easy to miss the forest for the trees.

God is not as concerned about which house we buy, which company we work for, or even what we study in university as He is about other important aspects of His will. That doesn’t mean He won’t answer our questions and lead and guide us in these matters; to the contrary, Jesus said our Father cares about sparrows (Matthew 10:29–31), so He’ll certainly give us guidance and insight as we take the time to ask Him for help and listen to His guidance. However, as God is an eternal being, He has the best possible view of His “big picture” will for our lives, which is actually quite simple:

1) “It is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life” (John 6:40 NLT).

God’s highest will for each person is to live forever with Him. However, we have to make that possible by believing that Jesus is God’s Son who rose from the dead (Romans 10:9).

2) “The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 NLT).

This verse goes along with Jesus’ statement in Matthew 22 that all the commandments are based on loving God and loving others (Matthew 22:37–40). Paul summed it up in Galatians 5 when he said that “all the law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:14). Put simply, love is the touchstone by which we should make all our decisions. What college degree you get doesn’t matter as much as using your knowledge to help your fellowman. Where you live isn’t as important as how you live. How much money you earn doesn’t matter as much as your spending habits.

In one sense, these basic parameters make life easy. We don’t have to worry that we “missed God’s highest will” because we didn’t get a particular degree, or move to a certain city, or marry a certain person. You’re not necessarily missing out on God’s plan for your life if you have a minimum-wage job, are still single, don’t have children, or didn’t study for ministry. On the other hand, it’s sometimes easier to sift through job, degree, and housing options than it is to love a pesky co-worker or neighbor, share hard-earned money with the poor and needy, or sacrifice a good job, study, or housing opportunity to take care of an elderly parent. We desperately need God’s help to fulfill His will for our lives. Thankfully, He’s more than willing to help us.

“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:6 NLT).

“The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you’” (Psalm 32:8 NLT).

“If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5 AMP).

What’s more, the long-term rewards of following God’s will are more than worth the sacrifice:

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).

“All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God” (Revelation 3:12 NLT).

The Bible says: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). If you do not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus, you can invite Him into your life by praying this simple prayer:

Dear Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God and that You died on the cross for me so that, through Your sacrifice, I can live forever with You in heaven. I ask that You forgive my sins. I open the door of my heart to You. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me live in a way that glorifies You. Guide my life and help me to follow You. In Your name I pray. Amen.