HE WILL VS. I WILL
How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God’...
Isaiah 14:12-13 (NIV)
Independence is deadly in our faith. Notice what Satan said in his heart: I will. Jesus would only do what the Father willed. He didn’t do things and then invite God. He was in unison and step. We may think it's spiritual not to bother God or bog Him down with our requests, but that’s a form of pride, a form of independence. Your life isn’t yours. It's God’s. So everything you do should be in step with Him.
It may sound humble and harmless, but saying I will reinforces the idea that you are on your own. A few years ago, I said, my team in a meeting. God challenged me. They weren’t my team. They were His team. Everything we have is from God, and we’re stewards of the great gifts He entrusts us. Train yourself to say, I will do this with God, I will work with God on my chores, my family, my job, my future, or my struggle. It’s a way to be reminded to choose the Spirit, not the self.
The other day, I was talking to someone who just wasn’t making good decisions. The sad part is that no matter what I said, he didn’t really care. He seemed set on choosing his way over God’s. I felt pressured to say the right thing and honestly felt I failed. I operated like it was my duty to change him.
Let the pressure and weight fall. That’s the pride of performance. Just be faithful to do what God’s called you to do. Be faithful to walk in step with the Spirit. He’s the only one who can change someone, so trust that! He is faithful. If it’s all on you today, you need to feel anxiousness, pressure, and weight for how everything goes, but if He’s in control, that creates freedom and joy. Walk in that truth today.
APPLICATION: Remember that everything you do today is with God!
PRAYER: Whatever you carry in your strength, surrender that to God. He is good and faithful. Think about what creates stress or joy in you and invite Him into those things. Think about the good things that have happened to you and imagine God walking and delighting in those things with you! Thank Him for being interested in every detail of your life.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?