Your will agrees with God, but in your flesh there is a nature that renders you powerless to do what you know you ought to do. When the Lord initially comes in contact with our conscience, the first thing our conscience does is awaken our will, and our will always agrees with God. Yet you say, “But I don’t know if my will is in agreement with God.” Look to Jesus and you will find that your will and your conscience are in agreement with Him every time. What causes you to say “I will not obey” is something less deep and penetrating than your will. It is perversity or stubbornness, and they are never in agreement with God. The most profound thing in a person is his will, not sin.

The will is the essential element in God’s creation of human beings— sin is a perverse nature which entered into people. In someone who has been born again, the source of the will is Almighty God. “. . . for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” With focused attention and great care, you have to “work out” what God “works in” you— not work to accomplish or earn “your own salvation,” but work it out so you will exhibit the evidence of a life based with determined, unshakable faith on the complete and perfect redemption of the Lord. As you do this, you do not bring an opposing will up against God’s will— God’s will is your will. Your natural choices will be in accordance with God’s will, and living this life will be as natural as breathing. Stubbornness is an unintelligent barrier, refusing enlightenment and blocking its flow. The only thing to do with this barrier of stubbornness is to blow it up with “dynamite,” and the “dynamite” is obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Do I believe that Almighty God is the Source of my will? God not only expects me to do His will, but He is in me to do it.

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June 6, 2011

Journal entry for today-JDV

Lord, I need you in so many areas of my life, and I wonder if I am worthy enough to receive your love, grace and hope. I wonder if I matter enough or if I am good enough to receive your care and provision. And then I remember the sacrifice of Jesus.

When I recall the magnitude of your sacrifice I grasp a bit of the truth…and then the Holy Spirit speaks to me quietly reminding me that I am yours….not because of anything I have or have not done, but because of Jesus.

And God says…”You will have doubts and concerns in this life, but they can serve as reminders to stay connected to Me. You may stray and defy Me and My word and direction … that too can serve to drive you back to Me.  You come to learn that because You are mine, I will never let you go…ever. All things work together for good for those that love Me and are called according to My purpose. Trust Me and rest, you are spoken for.”