A person’s will is embodied in the actions of the whole person. I cannot give up my will— I must exercise it, putting it into action. I must will to obey, and I must will to receive God’s Spirit. When God gives me a vision of truth, there is never a question of what He will do, but only of what I will do. The Lord has been placing in front of each of us some big proposals and plans. The best thing to do is to remember what you did before when you were touched by God. Recall the moment when you were saved, or first recognized Jesus, or realized some truth. It was easy then to yield your allegiance to God. Immediately recall those moments each time the Spirit of God brings some new proposal before you.

“. . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. . . .” Your choice must be a deliberate determination— it is not something into which you will automatically drift. And everything else in your life will be held in temporary suspension until you make a decision. The proposal is between you and God— do not “confer with flesh and blood” about it ( Galatians 1:16  ). With every new proposal, the people around us seem to become more and more isolated, and that is where the tension develops. God allows the opinion of His other saints to matter to you, and yet you become less and less certain that others really understand the step you are taking. You have no business trying to find out where God is leading— the only thing God will explain to you is Himself.

Openly declare to Him, “I will be faithful.” But remember that as soon as you choose to be faithful to Jesus Christ, “You are witnesses against yourselves . . .” ( Joshua 24:22 ). Don’t consult with other Christians, but simply and freely declare before Him, “I will serve You.” Will to be faithful— and give other people credit for being faithful too.

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

July 8, 2010

The messages were very clear this morning…..from the Joyce Meyer book that spoke about asking God to give me passion and internal motivation for His will, to the music and devotional for the morning. Oswald Chambers says we must choose to do His will. Joyce Meyer says that we can choose His will and then ask God to change us from the inside so that we conform to His will. And as He changes us from the inside, I expect He will also instill us with a passion for His will and vision for our lives.

And God says……”I have a plan for your life, for you to be happy, passionate and committed to a mission operating in My will. However, you must make the choices. I know your human nature and the enemy fight against doing My will, and I know you struggle and search for My will like it is some kind of hidden treasure you must seek, but that is not the way. My will is spelled out in My word. Trust and obey……Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. Everything else rests upon these two commandments.

If you seek Me and seek your life in Me, the stepping stones of your life and the passion that lights your way will make your “one step at a time directions” very clear; every day at precisely the right time.

I am the God I am, not the God of what was or what will be. Live in Me right now, and everything else becomes clear and purposeful, as you are filled with passion for the life I live through you, one moment to the next.