Having Will Power and Won't Power
Many of us want to do right, but we do not hate evil.(Proverbs 8:13) The truth is that we will never be successful in doing the right things until we hate evil, because these two things must go together. God hates evil, pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth. Our goal is to fear God, so we are to hate what He hates, not just because He said to, but because it will be for our good.
Motivation is difficult for a lot of us. Just because we want to motivate ourselves to be humble, speak in a godly way, and stay away from the evil way does not mean that we will. We must have will power and "won't power." Yes, we must have God's power to help us, but He is waiting to see if we will fear Him, so that we choose to love what He loves and hate what He hates. Then, He will supply the power to do the right thing. Think about it. Why should God help a proud, arrogant person, with a perverse mouth, who often lives in the evil way? He would be reinforcing these things by helping us do a few good things to salve our consciences. This would not help us really, because the sins would destroy us and take us farther from the Lord, until we do not even want to do what is right. However, if we decide to hate everything evil, we have the basis for doing right. Then, if God helps us do right, He knows we can do His will more and more, as we stay away from the wrong things.
Let's all decide today to hate evil. Whenever you are tempted by it, turn away and tell Satan you hate it. Turn to the Lord and ask for the power of the Spirit to stop being proud, arrogant, speaking badly, or going in the evil way. You will be amazed at the results of having this "won't power."
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 9-11.
Motivation is difficult for a lot of us. Just because we want to motivate ourselves to be humble, speak in a godly way, and stay away from the evil way does not mean that we will. We must have will power and "won't power." Yes, we must have God's power to help us, but He is waiting to see if we will fear Him, so that we choose to love what He loves and hate what He hates. Then, He will supply the power to do the right thing. Think about it. Why should God help a proud, arrogant person, with a perverse mouth, who often lives in the evil way? He would be reinforcing these things by helping us do a few good things to salve our consciences. This would not help us really, because the sins would destroy us and take us farther from the Lord, until we do not even want to do what is right. However, if we decide to hate everything evil, we have the basis for doing right. Then, if God helps us do right, He knows we can do His will more and more, as we stay away from the wrong things.
Let's all decide today to hate evil. Whenever you are tempted by it, turn away and tell Satan you hate it. Turn to the Lord and ask for the power of the Spirit to stop being proud, arrogant, speaking badly, or going in the evil way. You will be amazed at the results of having this "won't power."
Tomorrow, I intend to read Proverbs 9-11.