Are You Willing?
Our daughter's family. She's always been surrounded by fellows!
For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13 ESV
and
God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him.
Philippians 2:13 CEV
My husband does not like it when I inquire as to whether he would be willing to fulfill a request for me. But. that is exactly what Paul is posing to us in Philippians 2:13. We have this free will as to whether we are going to obey God or not. God is working in our hearts to mold us into children who desire what he desires. It's a process of maturity and I do not think we ever get it perfectly right this side of heaven. Remember, there is an enemy at work to keep us from God's will.
How blessed we are to have the God inspired words of Paul. His real life expoeriences and vulnerability make him such a good teacher. Check out an example of this in couple translations in Romans 7:15
I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. (Been there felt like that.)
I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary. Romans 7:15 MSG
The devotional site 365 Promises had this prayer along with Day 12.
"Father, thiank you for giving me a new heart so connected to your heart that my godly desires become in sync with yours. Help me to become more aware of these God-given longings so that I can accomplish every good purpose you have intended for my life. I also pray that I will be freed from unhealthy expectations that others place on me that lead me away from the good works you have prepared in advance for me to do. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen
The Song
