21 Bible Verses About Man’s Will (With Commentary)

Human willpower is often hailed as a source of strength and determination. But what does the Bible say about man’s will and its limitations?

Join us as we explore enlightening Bible verses that shed light on the importance of surrendering our will to God’s perfect plan.

Discover the transformative power of aligning our desires with God’s purposes and finding true fulfillment in His guidance. Get ready to explore the delicate balance between human will and divine surrender.

Bible Verses About Man’s Will

Proverbs 16:9

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

This verse acknowledges man’s ability to make plans and decisions for his life but ultimately understands that God is in control and determines the outcome of those plans. It emphasizes the importance of trusting God’s sovereignty and submitting to His will.

Proverbs 19:21

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

This verse suggests that man may have many plans, but it is ultimately God’s purpose and plan that will ultimately be fulfilled. It encourages believers to seek God’s will and trust in His sovereign authority.

Matthew 26:39

“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

In this verse, Jesus models an example of submission to God’s will. He expresses His desire to avoid the upcoming suffering but trusts in God’s plan above His own desires. It emphasizes the importance of obedience and willingness to surrender to God’s will.

James 4:13-15

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.””

This passage cautions against the presumption of making plans without considering God’s will. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging God’s sovereignty and submitting to His plans rather than our own.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

This verse encourages believers to trust in God and lean on His understanding rather than relying on their own understanding and will. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging God in all aspects of life and trusting that He will lead and direct our paths according to His will.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

This verse highlights that God’s will for believers is to give thanks in all circumstances. It emphasizes the importance of living a life of gratitude and aligning our will with God’s will by acknowledging His goodness and faithfulness in all things.

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

This passage highlights the vast difference between man’s will and God’s will. It emphasizes the importance of trusting in God’s ways and submitting to His will, even when it may not align with our own understanding or desires.

Philippians 2:13

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

This verse acknowledges that it is God who works in believers to align their will with His own and to work for His good pleasure. It emphasizes the importance of surrendering our will to God and trusting in His work in our lives.

Ephesians 5:17

“Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

This passage encourages believers to seek to understand God’s will and not be foolish or misguided. It emphasizes the importance of seeking God’s wisdom and direction in all things in order to align our will with His own.

1 Peter 3:17

“For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”

This verse acknowledges that sometimes obeying God’s will may require suffering or hardship, but it is better to suffer for doing good and aligning with God’s will than for doing evil. It emphasizes the importance of obedience and submission to God’s will, even in difficulty.

Romans 12:2

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

This verse encourages believers not to conform to the ways of the world but to renew their mind and discern God’s will. It emphasizes the importance of aligning with God’s will in order to live a life that is good, acceptable, and perfect according to His plan.

John 6:38

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

This verse illustrates Jesus’ commitment to obeying God’s will rather than His own desires. It emphasizes the importance of submitting to God’s will and living in obedience to His plan for our lives.

Colossians 3:23-24

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

This passage highlights that aligning our will with God’s will includes working heartily as unto the Lord, not to please men. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing that we ultimately serve Christ in all that we do and seeking to align our will with His plan.

Psalm 40:8

“I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

This verse expresses the psalmist’s delight in doing God’s will and having His law within their heart. It emphasizes the importance of aligning our desires with God’s and finding joy in walking in obedience to His plan.

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

This verse assures believers that God has plans for their lives that are good and filled with hope. It emphasizes the importance of trusting in His plan and submitting our will to His, knowing that He desires good for us.

Hebrews 10:36

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”

This verse acknowledges that obedience to God’s will often requires endurance and perseverance. It emphasizes the importance of trusting in God and pushing through difficulty in order to align our will with His and receive the promises He has for us.

Psalm 33:11

“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”

This verse underscores the unchanging nature of God’s counsel and His plan for all generations. It emphasizes the importance of trusting in His eternal plan and aligning our will with His for our lives.

1 Thessalonians 4:3

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.”

This verse outlines a specific aspect of God’s will for believers, which is our sanctification. It emphasizes the importance of holiness and obedience to God’s commands in order to align our will with His for our lives.

John 7:17

“If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.”

This verse suggests that those who desire to do God’s will will have greater understanding and discernment in recognizing the truth of God’s word. It emphasizes the importance of seeking to align our will with His and trusting in His guidance for our lives.

Proverbs 21:1

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”

This verse acknowledges that even the hearts of rulers are subject to God’s will and direction. It emphasizes the sovereignty of God and the importance of aligning our will with His for our lives.

What does the Bible say about Man’s Will?

The Bible discusses the concept of man’s will in several contexts, addressing the ability of humans to make choices and exercise their free will. Throughout the scriptures, it is evident that God has given human beings the capacity to make decisions, to choose between right and wrong, and to be responsible for their actions. This idea of free will is intricately connected to the understanding of human accountability and moral responsibility.

One significant aspect of man’s will in the Bible is the concept of sin and its consequences. The Bible teaches that all humans have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). This implies that individuals have the ability to make choices that lead to disobedience and rebellion against God’s commands.

Despite the presence of free will, the Bible also emphasizes the role of God’s sovereignty in human affairs. God is depicted as all-knowing and all-powerful, and His plans and purposes will ultimately prevail (Isaiah 46:10, Psalm 115:3). However, this divine sovereignty does not negate the reality of human choice.

The Bible portrays God’s desire for humanity to choose obedience and righteousness, but it also acknowledges that people have the freedom to reject God and follow their own desires (Joshua 24:15, Deuteronomy 30:19). This tension between God’s sovereignty and human free will has been a subject of theological debate throughout history.

One notable example of the intertwining of God’s sovereignty and human will is the biblical teaching on salvation. The Bible portrays God as the initiator of salvation, but it also invites people to respond to His offer of grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16). This interaction between God’s divine initiative and human response underscores the complexity of man’s will in the context of spiritual matters.

In conclusion, the Bible teaches that humans possess free will, granting them the ability to make choices and be accountable for their actions. At the same time, it acknowledges God’s sovereignty and divine plan, which works in harmony with human decisions. The interplay between man’s will and God’s sovereignty is a profound and intricate theological subject that continues to be explored and understood by various religious traditions.