How Can I Know God's Will

It's probably a safe bet to say that every Christian, at some point
in their life, has asked what God's will for them was. Since we
look to him as the Creator and master over all things, it makes
sense to consider what he would have us do, where he would have us
go, and how he would have us live. Recognizing this aspect of God's
lordship is not a stretch for most Christians. But there are two
big aspects to God's will that become a concern for us. The first
concern orbits around how we go about determining God's will for
us. Is it by reading the Bible? Praying? Talking to godly friends?
Elders? Going to the pastor? Reading extra-biblical material?
Looking for certain circumstances to align? The second concern is
closely related to the first, and that is what God's will actually
is. Basically, how do we truly know that whatever conclusion we've
arrived at is indeed his will for us? Is there ever a way to
reconcile these things?