Growing up, a familiar verse was Romans 12.2, which in the King James reads this way:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Sometimes we were taught to pursue God’s “perfect” will for our lives and don’t be satisfied with merely his “good” or “acceptable” will. And so God’s will was some mysterious thing we were supposed to find, especially in areas like which college to go to, whom to marry, what job to accept, etc.

In fact, most of the newer translations see the “good, acceptable, and perfect” as attributes not as increasing degrees of suitability:

Do not conform 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. (Romans 12.2, NIV)

In that vein, the January 5 meditation in LICC’s 40-day Growing in Resilience series (I recommend) reminded us that God’s will is daily and continuous, not just occasional “big-event” decisions:

We are constantly being encouraged to conform to the pattern of the world around us and adopt its values. This happens through advertising, social media, workplace culture, the films we watch, and the books we read. Paul explains that the purpose of renewing our minds is to enable us ‘to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.’ As our minds become renewed we are more attuned to God’s thoughts, viewing situations and people from his perspective. By contrast an unrenewed mind, conformed to the world’s thinking, will have difficulty discerning God’s will.

As I wrote in other words on January 3, God’s will for us is “Deeds of love and mercy”–holy moments!

Here are a few other “suggestions” on what the will of God might include, right out of Romans 12:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12.9 – 13, NIV)