This is a good place to remind you I have no theological credentials, I’ve just been reading the Bible with fascination for decades, and this is the place where I write down the will of God when I read it.
The idea was inspired by the excellent work of Greg Koukl, founder of Stand to Reason, a resource I’ve trusted for years. He is truly a theologian and an honest man, as evidenced by the amazing success of his ministry. He has thoroughly studied the issue of the way many Christian misuse verses about the will of God: https://www.str.org/w/does-god-whisper-part-1
My list is a bit subjective. I can’t write down every time the word “will” appears in the Bible, because that’s 4,488 times. Even narrowing it down to God’s will, for example Genesis 12:2 “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great” would be quite a project.
The list here is intended for you, and because God chose you from the foundation of the world, these verses are going to start from the first time God says the word “will” at creation, and get more specific as His beautiful plan of redemption unfolds.
God’s will for humanity as history opened:
Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for [corresponding to] him.
Genesis 6:7,13 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them... And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth."
Genesis 9:5-7 From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.
Exodus 3:20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.
Exodus 6:8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.
2 Samuel 7:16 [speaking to David] And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. [Speaking of the Son of David --> Jesus]
These next ones are poetry, which means they apply to you more directly:
Psalm 10:17
O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart;
you will incline your ear.
Psalm 16:8-11
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand,
I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad,
and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 17:6
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.
Psalm 30:11
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Psalm 31:23
Love the LORD, all you his saints!
The LORD preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the LORD!
Psalm 32:10
Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm 34:4
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 46:9-10
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 103:2-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Proverbs 16:4
The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.
Proverbs 17:3
The crucible is for silver,
and the furnace is for gold,
and the Lord tests hearts.
Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord,
and he will deliver you.
Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
The end of the matter; all has been heard.
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.Isaiah 53:10-12
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Micah 2:7
Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 5:19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 8:2-3 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 9:13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 18:3-4 Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.