Have you ever wanted to do something good and then lacked the will power to stick with it? Maybe you wanted to get in shape, or save for a big purchase, or prepare for a promotion. At first you are all in and disciplined. That lasts for like one day then you lack the will power and do not finish. Have you ever wanted to change something in your life and once you tried you did not have the power to bring change? Maybe it was doing pull ups, confronting a friend, or trying fix something in your house only to find you could not do it.
I think this describes our relationship with God at times. We want to wake up early and then the snooze button wins. We want to read His word and then that text comes in. Or we want to go to church but we are behind in homework, projects at the house, or life happens. Then there is our relationships with other people. We want to call them once a week and we do not. We want to spend quality time but we have two jobs. So often we lack the will and the power to change the things we really want changed.
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
This is one of the most encouraging verses in scripture. The God who gave His son for our salvation also gives us the desire to do what pleases Him. We all know we cannot please everyone, but we can please God. He gives us the desire the will power to do it. Desire is not enough. We also need the power. I have the desire to change our nation but I do not have the power. President Obama is not in my contacts on my phone. I also need the power for change. So God also gives us the power for change. This power is not of this world or something we can make happen on our own. It is only found by the Holy Spirit.
What I have just described is grace. In scripture there are two kinds of grace. There is the grace that covers our sin. Before Jesus people would do sacrifice to receive forgiveness, then Jesus made a way to cover all of our sin by being our sacrifice. Then second kind of grace is by the Holy Spirit who enables us by giving us the desire and the power to live where we are called to live.
So how do we change? We go to God in prayer in the secrete place and we ask God to give us give us the desire and the power for change in our lives. So where do you need change and you are trying alone? Go to Him now and ask for grace to live in His desire and His power for change.
Recklessly, obsessively following Jesus
Brandon Sereg
