Strong Willed! (part 2 of 2)

As we noted yesterday, dealing with a strong willed child can be quite challenging and dealing with strong willed adults can be even more so. We also considered how that strong will is most often a strong “won’t”! If we are going to have a strong will, may it be to REMAIN STEADFAST in the Will of God! It takes a strong will to PERSEVERE in the midst of differing values in a world that desires for us to conform to its will.

Remember Paul’s exhortation to the church at Rome.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is THE WILL OF GOD, what is GOOD and ACCEPTABLE and PERFECT.” ( Romans 12:2 ESV)

It often takes a very strong will to ward off that pressure from the world. It is God’s Will that is perfect. The world’s and our own is often short sighted and off center; quite far from being perfect.

The Hebrew writer encouraged those going through tough times with these words:
“(36) For YOU HAVE NEED OF ENDURANCE, so that when you have DONE THE WILL OF GOD you MAY RECEIVE WHAT IS PROMISED. (37) For, ‘Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; (38) but MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.’ (39) But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but OF THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH AND PRESERVE THEIR SOULS.” ( Hebrews 10:36-39 ESV)

How strong is our will to PERSEVERE without shrinking back? That is the STEADFAST resolve we need to keep us on the right path in life. Without that resolve we can find ourselves easily entangled in the things of the world. Are we always mindful of that which is of lasting significance?

John exhorted…
“(16) For all that is in the world -- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions -- is not from the Father but is from the world. (17) And the world is passing away along with its desires, but WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER.” ( 1 John 2:16-17 ESV)

Let us not get so caught up in the things of this world that we lose sight of that which will sustain us for an eternity with God. May we maintain a strong will to keep God’s Will in view as we engage in every activity of life.

Have a great day SUSTAINED BY AN UNSHRINKABLE FAITH IN AND COMMITMENT TO GOD’S WILL!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on God's Will