Philippians 2:13 NKJV
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
To accomplish any task, there must be two steps: the will or readiness to do the task and the actual doing of it. When it comes to spiritual life, it is a widespread question: How do I do God’s will? In today’s verse, Paul emphasizes the truth that God gives us the desire and ability to do what pleases Him.
Human will, by nature, is in bondage to the flesh and is always concerned with fulfilling its desires. So, what do we do when we do not feel like obeying God’s will? Thankfully, God has not left us alone in our struggle to do His will. He is actively involved in shaping our desires and abilities to fulfil His will. He has promised to come alongside us – to give us the desire to obey Him and then give us the power to do what He wants.
Let us remember that salvation is achieved not by our works, but through faith in Christ Jesus by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). A transformed heart will always result in a transformed life, obedient to the Master’s voice.
The next time you find it challenging to obey God’s will, ask Him to help you want to do His will. Often it is in doing God’s will that we gain the desire to do it. Let’s be confident that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
Let this be our daily prayer: Father, here I am. I am surrendering to Your will. Please give me the desire to do Your will joyfully, even when it’s against my human will. Lord, empower me to accomplish Your will by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
