Willpower

Most of us immediately think of our willpower when we encounter this word. We consider all the times we have tried to rid ourselves of shortcomings or bad habits by using our willpower. The dictionary states that willpower is a noun which means energetic determination or resoluteness.

My attempts at self improvement by relying upon my determination, no matter how energetic, have failed. I always had a vague idea of my shortcomings but I could not convince myself that they were so undesirable that I had to remove them. Situations in my life presented me with the opportunity to examine myself in detail. The first thing I discovered was that I lacked sufficient willpower to even examine my innermost feelings. This was when I remembered that there was an ever-loving God who was more powerful than I. For the first time in my life I made a decision to put my life in His hands. I began to slowly change as I turned more of my will over to His will. My prayers (I had always prayed) began to change.

When we pray we consider what we say... Who is in charge? Who is the one with the power? Petitions are the human way. Puny man asks God for things; "Lord will you do this because I want you to do it". Notice the faith of the leper and his petition in Matthew 8:2; "Lord, if thou will, thou can make me clean". The leper knows the Lord is capable, the question is; is it in God's will? If we accept God as a higher power then we must respect His will, His purpose, His way, and in His time. We cannot see into the future as He can, we do not know what is best for us in the long term. Many of the circumstances we find ourselves facing are the result of choices we have made in the past. God allows these circumstances to change us and strengthen us to serve His purposes. He is always in charge. My willpower falls way short of His will for me. Faith works miracles.

Matt 8:1-3
1 When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.
2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. (NIV)

How Great Thou Art

Originally a Swedish folk melody,
"O Store Gud" by Carl Boberg (1859-1940)
was translated by Stuart K. Hine in 1899.

words and music by Stuart Hine

O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul! my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!