Reddit mentions of Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will

I've just finished reading Just Do Something: How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Open Doors, Random Bible Verses, Casting Lots, Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, etc. by Kevin DeYoung. He does a good job of showing why this is nonsense.

But don't automatically assume that someone is knowingly abdicating responsibility - some people do think that their feelings are trustworthy guides to God's feelings about a particular situation.

Edit: added subtitle and link to the book

Look for this book, Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung. It's a good, short book about working through God's purpose.

On a more practical note, what you're feeling isn't uncommon.

I got a book recently for my birthday called Just Do Something, written by a young pastor named Kevin DeYoung. It does a decent job of arguing that praying for, say, employment, instead of getting up and finding a job, isn't actually Biblical and doesn't fit with God's will for man.

I certainly sympathize if the job market is tough and if your health situation is difficult, and I think it's valid to pray to seek God's will, but if you're actually feeling like you're wasting your life praying for things to happen -- as in, you could have been doing productive things -- then that's something else entirely, and whether or not you're praying to something imaginary, you are wasting your life. We can talk to God all we want in Heaven, but we can only use our body to work in this life.

Go read Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung. It's fairly short and will completely make you change your mind about how you view God's will.

God doesn't send neon arrows from heaven. He doesn't send THE ONE to our doorstop when we are doing nothing. We are supposed to pray and seek His guidance. We are also supposed to actively pursue the direction we feel led.

It's also a bad idea to think that there is only ONE person for each of us. As long as the person you marry is a Believer and equally yoked, God is good with it.

I ran across a book recently that spoke to this: Just Do Something: How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Open Doors, Random Bible Verses, Casting Lots, Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, etc. by Kevin DeYoung. The author is a Calvinist, so despite how the title might sound, he's not at all casual about God's will.

From a review posted a couple weeks ago:

> DeYoung offers some welcome wisdom to Christians paralyzed by an absence of divine guidance, or by conflicting omens. Instead of guessing at the hidden divine meaning of circumstances (essentially a kind of divination) or gullibly taking every passing thought or imagination as a Word or Vision From God... DeYoung suggests making intelligent decisions in accordance with what we know from scripture to be godly goals and wisdom, and then working out those decisions with diligence. Radical, huh?

> He distinguishes between God's secret will (or will of decree), God's revealed will (will of desire) and God's will for our lives (will of direction). God's will of decree is his secret will, ordained from all of time--a will that is going to come to pass and that no man can thwart. God's will of desire is his will as revealed in Scripture--a will we sometimes obey and at other times disobey. God's will of direction is the one that answers those questions we have about jobs and spouses and houses and all the rest. Here's the real heart of the matter, according to DeYoung. "Does God have a secret will of direction that He expects us to figure out before we do anything? And the answer is no." Though we are free to ask for his direction and though we ought to be devoted to prayer in all matters, God does not burden us with seeking his will of direction ahead of our decisions. "God does have a specific plan for our lives, but it is not one that He expects us to figure out before we make a decision." "Trusting in God's will of decree is good. Following his will of desire is obedient. Waiting for God's will of direction is a mess."

You might or might not feel like buying the book But do read the comments at Amazon - you're not the only one who's had these questions, or who's got stuck in a place of guilt or paralysis by people who teach God is a secretive micromanager.

While not directly about leadership, I think Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung was the most "leadership inspiring" book I've ever read. Incredibly edifying, and a pretty quick read. It's short, about 100 pages iirc, so I'm not sure if that would fulfill your time requirement.

Great question. Part time missionary here, headed towards full time someday. I'd like to share some about my experiences on short term trips (2wk) and some of what several of my Full Time missionary friends have told me. Full Disclosure: I haven't fully read the other responses to your post, so I'm probably repeating at least something.

First off, let me break down the $2k. It is a lot of money. Know that most of that money is to get you into the area. The last flight I booked to Guatemala was $1200 a seat -- group rate, booked 3 months in advance. My most recent trip, to Eastern Europe rang in at over $1600 -- single ticket, booked 4 mo ahead. Now, I'm single, so I don't have to think about doubling that like you do, but just know that $2k isn't some number they pull out of the air. By the time you roll up airfare and food alone, you're pushing that budget. Throw in ground transportation and lodging and you're going to need a miracle. That said, before you go short or mid term with any organization, get a cost breakdown of where your money is going. The team leaders should be fully financially supported, as well as the rest of the organizational infrastructure. ( I ran a HipMunk search on Denver to Cairo, because I live in CO and I picked Cairo, and came up with estimated airfare of $1200, for Nov1 - Nov15 ).

In the thread currently at the top, you mention "it would be more beneficial to just send that money to those in need." You're probably right, especially if you're thinking of paying for this out of pocket yourself. But you shouldn't be doing that. A HUGE part of missions is fundraising, and so sharing your experience with people that don't feel called to go, but instead to send (Romans 10:15ish). Fundraising is hard, but it is a huge blessing. Your church should be a part of this. (You are a member of a church, right?) I also believe that you should contribute a nontrivial percentage of your trip funds. Paul was a tentmaker and he payed for much of his ministry by working hard, but not all of it.

Second, a note about the duration of trips Short term -- the 2wk variety -- is more about you than the people you're serving. Its about getting out of the comfort of your daily life and witnessing God work in the lives of other people in different ways. You work for the people you're visiting, but 2 weeks is far to short to have a lasting spiritual impact. Mid term -- from 3 months to 2 years -- is starting to shift the focus. If your target is 3 months, then you'll be on the ground just long enough to start to understand what is going on and what needs you can fill when you leave. Not long enough to do language school, and not long enough to really get to know people. Beyond that, well, you get the picture. Most 3-month programs are "Summer programs," but they're not exactly geared towards college students.

Third, how I would go about it given my today-knowledge

• Make sure you're both members at a church...one that already supports FT missionaries is preferable. If you're not, Start now! Go, do the membership class, sign the statement of faith, and attend the services.
  
• Get in contact with missionaries. Send them emails, care packages, money. (Peanut butter goes a long way to winning the heart of many expats.) Most missionaries have emails they send out monthly or weekly and they're stoked to add you to their list. This is important as it keeps missions right in your face even after you go and have your missions-honeymoon-hoorah. If you're at a church that supports missionaries, ask for a list of email addresses and just fire off 10 emails asking to be put on their email lists. If you want a list of missionaries looking for people to send letters to, PM me, I know many -- no donation to me or them required.
  
• Decide where you want to go. For help here, read 'Before you go', by Hempfling and 'Just do Something' by DeYoung.' Both are short, 100ish page books. If you only read one, I prefer Just Do Something. Some like Africa, others prefer Central/South America. Some want risky and opt for some Christianity-prohibited regions in Asia (or wherever). Personally, I'm finding I prefer the Eastern Europe region, but I haven't yet been to Asia.
  
• Decide what you want to do. Not "I want to build 3 houses for orphans turned widows now supporting ex-military kids" type of decision, but Medical vs Construction vs Language vs Social work.
  
• Ask the missionaries that are now sending you letters if there are teams coming to help them, or if you can do a mid-term trip to help them. They're the ones that know how you're going to best further the Gospel by your service, they're on the ground doing the work day in and day out.
  
• If you must, Scour google. Unfortunately, missions organizations aren't usually known for their web presence. Its far easier to find teams going where you want if you can first get ahold of a missionary that is already there, but sometimes its just difficult to do that.
  
  Edit: Link formatting, Hipmunk link.
  Bottom line - Get out there and do it, because way too many people just let it slide by and always think, "I should have XXX." Your personal Faith will be better off for going. The people you serve, including the missionary, will have a new house, less dental problems, better english skills, or whatever and, hopefully, will see Jesus in your heart of service.
  
  If you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM directly.
  
  Yay missions!

I don't know if you are a reader, but if you are, I'd suggest you check out the book Just Do Something. The author talks extensively about discerning God's will.

I've gone through a similar struggle recently. My pastoral care at my church directed me to read a book called "Just Do Something" found here. Essentially the point is there is not one solid path you have to travel in life which if you veer off you're screwed. Whatever decisions you make, God will find a way to work them into his plans. There are not always sign posts along the way. God has a plan that he often doesn't reveal to us and we only see it's shape in hindsight. More often than not with life matters, I've had to pray and place my trust in God and then take a leap of faith by making a decision.

Best of luck on everything either way!

I just read this book a couple days ago. It short and sweet, and it hooked me in so I ended up reading it all in a day.

Just Do Something: How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Open Doors, Random Bible Verses, Casting Lots, Liver Shivers by Joshua Harris and Kevin L DeYoung

I'll try and summarize it:

God has a sovereign will for our lives, not a single man, or animal, or atom deviates from this will.

But God does not expect us to try and sense what this will is via feelings/dreams/signs and obey it. If anything this way of living is not a life of faith; a life of faith is to say that "I do not know what my future hold but God does, and I trust that what is in store for me is good". We live by faith, not by sight.

God does not give us instructions every day of what decisions to make (toast or cereal, TV or conversation, walk by or intervene), He instead gives us wisdom and His Word which we should mull over and struggle with so that with the Spirit it transforms us into someone whose desires are Gods desires.

Gods will is the sanctification of our souls, not just for us to make all the correct choices now.

EDIT: I can answer any question you have on the subject that the book covers if you want.