Yes you can.
Paul said he knew God's will for his life. And he is an example for us to follow and learn from.
In fact, he states here in Eph 1:1, that he was doing what he was doing by the will of God.
Paul had come to know the will of God for his life and was accomplishing God's will in his life and work. God had revealed His will for Paul, and Paul was following God's will for His life. He was actively carrying out what God had for him.
Some questions, and Biblical principles concerning the will of God.
1. What is the will of God anyways? The phrase "will of God", when examined, simply means, that which is pleasing to God. In other words, God is pleased about His plans and purposes for your life, and when you are in His will, it's pleasing to Him.
2. To say it another way, when you do what God wants you to do, then He is pleased. And, I might add, so are you. I've never met anyone who was in God's will, and was not pleased, and was complaining about it. No, it's pleasing all the way around. ( And even to the people around you, believe it or not. It's bound to bring some pleasantness into their life as well )
3. But, how does a person go about getting into God's will, or finding God's will etc. ? That's the question. How can a person know the will of God? How does God reveal His will to someone?
Some additional facts about God's will:
1. We can pray for it. See the Lord's prayer Matt 5:10 "Your will be done etc, "
Jesus instructed us to pray for God's will in our lives. So, this is a major starting point for the Christian, to simply talk to God and ask that His will might be done in your life. That He might reveal His will to you.
2. God has already prepared His will for you, He did this long ago, even before the creation of the world. See Eph 2:10 "Which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them"
3. God reveals His will to people. He did so in Paul's life. See Acts 9. God told Paul just exactly what He wanted him to do. Same with Jeremiah the prophet, Abraham the father of our faith, and so many others down through the Bible, from Gen to Revelation. So, you can be confident that God will reveal His will to you. God is not a respecter of persons.
4. Is there something I must do to know God's will. Yes, pray and ask the Lord to show You His will. Again, Matt 5:10, and in James 1, we are encouraged to ask God for wisdom. 1st John tells us that when we pray according to the will of God, we can be sure God will show us the answers. It's always God's will to seek God's will. He is very willing to reveal it to anyone who wants to know.
5. Is it really that simple? Yes. And, sometimes no. God is not a genie, and He is not our servant. We are His servants. But, He very much wants to lead us and guide us into His will. God has His own timing as well. He is not on our schedule, but has His own timing in all that He does. We do not need to fret, He will take care of it.
6. God's leads us into His will by putting His desires into our hearts. See Ps 37:4
7. Another thing God does is to honor our humility and trust in Him. See Prov 3:5-6
8. God's will often deals with very specific things that are applicable to each and every Christian.
For example, It's God's will to avoid sexual immorality, and getting drunk, and all of what's said in the Ten Commandments. See 1st Thess 4, Eph 5, and Exodus 20.
9. Perhaps the largest, or biggest part of God's will goes by almost without notice. And that is to love the Lord, one another, and follow Jesus Christ with our whole being.
More principles about knowing the will of God, taken from Paul's own life and conversion
1. Christ revealed Himself to Paul. And, He will reveal Himself to you through His Word.
2. Paul asked Christ about His will. You also can ask God to show You His will.
3. Christ answered Paul, and gave him instruction about what to do. You can ask God also.
4. God's will was to be revealed step by step. This is generally how God does it.
5. The Lord used other people to help Paul move forward in God's Will.
6. You can expect the Lord to use some of His people to help you also.
7. God chose Paul, and appointed him to His will.
8. God has a particular plan that He has appointed for you also,
9. Paul took the next step as advised by Jesus.
10. Might you also take the next step that God has shown you to take also.
