Here is a list of key places in the ESV (English Standard Version) Bible where it speaks about doing the will of God. These passages either explicitly use the phrase or clearly describe what it means to do God’s will:

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Old Testament

While the exact phrase “will of God” is rare in the Old Testament, the idea is often expressed in terms like “obeying God’s commandments” or “walking in His ways.” Most direct references to “the will of God” occur in the New Testament.

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New Testament References

Here are the main passages in the ESV where the concept or phrase “the will of God” is clearly referenced:

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Jesus’ Teachings

1. Matthew 7:21

“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.”

2. Matthew 12:50

“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

3. John 4:34

“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.’”

4. John 6:38-40

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

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Paul’s Letters

5. 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.”

6. Ephesians 5:17

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

7. Ephesians 6:6

”…not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”

8. 1 Thessalonians 4:3

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

9. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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

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Peter’s Letters

10. 1 Peter 2:15

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.”

11. 1 Peter 3:17

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

12. 1 Peter 4:2

”…so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”

13. 1 Peter 4:19

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

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Other Notable Mentions

14. 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.”

15. 1 John 2:17

“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Mark 3:11

And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”

{just knowing Jesus is the Son of God is not enough. Even the demons know him!

It is conversion of soul that saves. 

Know you are a sinner

Know you cannot clean your sin

Know there is nothing you can pay to redeem your life

Know that you need saving from sin

Know you have offended God by living contrary to his design

Know you need mercy and grace 

Know you need power to not sin

Know you have hurt others by your ways

Know you are a child and need the Father to direct your way the way he designed life, because your way is a mess. 

Know this is the state of your soul all the way home and be willing to be dependent upon the Lord for every second by his grace. 

This is conversion and salvation.}

When we feel ashamed and disturbed at having fallen into sin, this is but a temptation of the devil, who tries to make use of our distress to draw us perhaps into some graver sin. The sorrow we feel at having offended God does not distress the soul, but rather leaves it calm and serene, because it is a sorrow united to humility, which brings grace with it; but to be distressed and overwhelmed by sadness - either from the shame we feel at having committed some disgraceful action, or from a sudden recognition of liability to fall, just when we thought ourselves stronger and more faithful than ever - is simply pride, which is born of an excessive self-love. We have too good an opinion of ourselves, and this is the reason why we are disturbed when we see our reputation injured by others or diminished by our own actions." —Humility of Heart, p.55

By The Holy Spirit’s  touch, the heart of man, in its natural state deceitful above all things (Jer 17:9), becomes capable of commitment and communion. 

You were born with a spark of the Divine within you. It had been all but smothered by the life you were living. That celestial fire has to be tended and fed so that it will grow eventually into a real desire to live the right way. By trying to do the will of God, you grow more and more in the new way of life. By thinking of God, praying to Him, and having communion with Him, you gradually grow more like Him. The way of your transformation from the material to the spiritual is the way of Divine Companionship.

Common Character Defects: 

• Fear: This can manifest as anxiety about the future, fear of failure, or fear of abandonment. 

• Pride: This can be seen as perfectionism, difficulty admitting mistakes, or excessive self-reliance. 

• Resentment: Holding onto past hurts, blame, and anger towards others. 

• Guilt: Carrying shame about past actions and their impact on others. 

• Dishonesty: Engaging in patterns of lying, manipulation, or self-deception. 

• Anger: Being easily angered or reactive. 

• Selfishness: Prioritizing one's own needs over the needs of others. 

• Jealousy: Experiencing envy or resentment towards others. 

• Overly Critical: Being excessively judgmental of oneself or others. 

• Arrogance: Having an inflated sense of self-importance.