God is Working in You
"It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:13 NIV
When it comes to doing what pleases God, there are two major hurdles you need to overcome - the "want to" and the "able to." Relinquishing your own plans and embracing God's will doesn't come easily. Your old fleshly nature wants what it wants, not what God wants. And even when God's will is clear, and you want what he wants, you lack the necessary ability to do it. Fortunately, that's where God steps into your dilemma by working in you to give you the "want to" and the "ability to." But the willingness and the capability both come from Him, not you. You ask, "Since God is working in me, why is there such a struggle to know and to do His will?" The problem is, your natural mind is self-centered and tends to resist God's will. So what's the answer? (1) Surrender your body and its appetites to God. "Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1 NIV). (2) Renew your mind. "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2 NIV). In the original Greek, "renewal" means to be "inwardly renovated" by aligning your thoughts with God's - to intentionally think like He thinks. In other words, God initiates the "want to" and the "ability to," and you cooperate by aligning your mind with His. When that happens, you can be confident "that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" (Philippians 1:6 NIV).
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
When it comes to doing what pleases God, there are two major hurdles you need to overcome - the "want to" and the "able to." Relinquishing your own plans and embracing God's will doesn't come easily. Your old fleshly nature wants what it wants, not what God wants. And even when God's will is clear, and you want what he wants, you lack the necessary ability to do it. Fortunately, that's where God steps into your dilemma by working in you to give you the "want to" and the "ability to." But the willingness and the capability both come from Him, not you. You ask, "Since God is working in me, why is there such a struggle to know and to do His will?" The problem is, your natural mind is self-centered and tends to resist God's will. So what's the answer? (1) Surrender your body and its appetites to God. "Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1 NIV). (2) Renew your mind. "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2 NIV). In the original Greek, "renewal" means to be "inwardly renovated" by aligning your thoughts with God's - to intentionally think like He thinks. In other words, God initiates the "want to" and the "ability to," and you cooperate by aligning your mind with His. When that happens, you can be confident "that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" (Philippians 1:6 NIV).
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
Recent
Archive
2021
January
A Word For The New Year (1)A Word For The New Year (2)Trust God and Don't Be AfraidKeep PerseveringLet Go, And Let GodA Word For The New Year (3)A Word For The New Year (4)Why Pray?Have You Read Your Bible Today?Learn To WaitWhere Can You Find Peace?Trust God's Saving And Keeping PowerDealing With Fear (1)Dealing With Fear (2)Dealing With Fear (3)Dealing With Fear (4)Dealing With Fear (5)Dealing With Fear (6)Dealing With Fear (7)Are You Successful But Unfulfilled?Choice MorselsYou're Commanded To LoveLive For What Matters!Today God Is With YouThe Assurance Of SalvationHave You Stumbled?You Can Have Peace And ProsperityHow To Walk In God's Blessings (1)How To Walk In God's Blessings (2)You're "Graced" For This TestAre You Under Pressure Today?Why You Need A Relationship With GodHow To Strengthen Your MarriageGive God The First Moments Of Your Day
February
Keep Believing in ThemSeek God's "Peace" Concerning ItDecide, and Stick With It!Dealing with Your Doubts (1)Dealing with Your Doubts (2)The StingGod Will Provide "All" You NeedLoving and Accepting OthersGenerational BlessingsYou Must Respond With GraceTurn Your Loss Into Gain (1)Turn Your Loss Into Gain (2)Turn Your Loss Into Gain (3)Your Identity Determines Your InheritanceTake it to God in PrayerGiving to Your SupplierHow Are You Coming Across?Get a "Preparation Perspective"Believe it, God's Word is TrueThe Power of Intimacy With ChristLive For Something Greater Than YourselfDealing With Our SinUnderstanding True Holiness"Do" God's WordUse What God Has Given You"Be of Good Courage, And Do It"Always Keep Your Conscience ClearThinking of Yourself Less
March
People Pleasing (1)People Pleasing (2)Can You Pay The Price?Today Try To Be GraciousGoodness (1)Goodness (2)Tell Someone About Jesus TodayPreparing For Greater ThingsYour Words Reveal Your HeartYour Family Background Doesn't MatterOur Nation Can Be SavedShow Some Enthusiasm!Let God Use Your BusinessCultivate An Awareness Of God's PresenceLoving People You Don't LikeCast Out Your FearsDon't Belittle Your GiftGod Will Visit You AgainAccept Responsibility For Your LifeLearn To Set BoundariesWhat Will Your Legacy Be? (1)What Will Your Legacy Be? (2)What Will Your Legacy Be? (3)Sow For The FutureCrossing The "What If" LineDo What God Called You To DoBe Who God Made You To Be!Keeping The Excitement AliveGetting Beyond "The Splat"Don't Worry, God is FaithfulKeep on Persevering
April
Always Be HonestRedefining "Good" FridayThe Battle Over the ResurrectionThe Work Was FinishedRenew Your Love for ChristConquering Your Toughest Enemy - Yourself!Are You Struggling With Change?Don't Listen to the AccuserHarmony at Home (1)Harmony at Home (2)Harmony at Home (3)The Secret to Surviving Hard TimesYour Old Nature and Your New OnePrayer Can Change Your LifePrayer: Make it Simple and FrequentAre You Worried? Pray About It!Either Rule, Or Be RuledAnswering the Big Questions (1)Answering the Big Questions (2)Answering the Big Questions (3)Answering the Big Questions (4)Answering the Big Questions (5)How to Handle Disagreements (1)
2020
October
Facing Death Without Fear (1)Facing Death Without Fear (2)Training Leaders Who Can Train Others (1)Training Leaders Who Can Train Others (2)The Martyr's ContestOld VoicesThink God Picked the Wrong Person?What You Weren't Sent to Do!Love and Enjoy Your ChildrenQuality and QuantitySoul HungerGod is Working in YouGrowth is More Important than GoalsDon't Stagnate!True Understanding Comes From Your BibleGet Rid of ItBelieve That God Has Heard YouLove ListensAre You in a Storm Today?How to Keep Your Peace and JoyHow to Pray EffectivelyGive Your Worries to GodTry Brainstorming (1)Try Brainstorming (2)Be Generous With GodFinding Purpose in Your WorkYou "Must" Love YourselfThe Gift of EncouragmentDon't Spread DiscouragementGo Back to Bethel!When Your Family Doesn't Understand You
November
Obstacles To Answered Prayer (3)Obstacles To Answered Prayer (4)Obstacles To Answered Prayer (5)Obstacles To Answered Prayer (6)We Need Each OtherYou Need Purpose, And PersistenceLearn To Say Yes Or NoThe Protocol For ChurchDon't Obsess Over The FutureAreas Of Success, Areas Of StruggleYou Can Begin Your Life Over AgainKeep Persevering And You'll WinTemptation (1)Temptation (2)You Are Gifted By God (1)You Are Gifted By God (2)You Are Gifted By God (3)Personal Growth (1)Personal Growth (2)Lean On God\'s Presence And His PeopleThink Realistically (1)Think Realistically (2)What's Your Vision?Keep ImprovingInsecurity In LeadershipSet Free To Fulfill Your Destiny
December
By God's Grace You Can OvercomeStrength Through SharingSustaining GraceWe Serve a Generous GodForgive Because You've Been ForgivenTry to Make RestitutionProtect Your MindMake Your Life Count for GodYou're Accepted, Loved, and SecureThe Bible and Your Health (1)The Bible and Your Health (2)The Truth of Creation (1)The Truth of Creation (2)The Truth of Creation (3)The Truth of Creation (4)The Truth of Creation (5)The Mickey Mantle StorySet Healthy Boundaries for YourselfDollars and DiamondsHave You Prayed About It?Forget It and Move OnHold On Until Your Joy ComesKeep Your Conscience ClearAre You Alone This Christmas?Christmas is About - ChristBe FlexibleFocus on the Solution not the ProblemHave You Been Betrayed?
Categories
no categories