No Will

I have begun reading for some of my classes this semester and most of the work I have this semester pertains to lots and lots of reading. I figured it would just be busy work in regards to reading and that I would just have some useless information that I needed to retain until a test so that I could do very well on it and then remember bits and pieces that were important for the rest of my life. Then I ran into a book called Celebration of Discipline. I only read two chapters tonight (only 13 in the book), but I was amazed by the stuff I read. For the most part, it covers the different spiritual disciplines and gives you a different perspective on how to achieve them (if you have not already) or on how shape them so that you are following them using biblical principles more or less. I noticed one thing in the reading that stood out to me and I will address it more later on, but this particular idea got me thinking about how I live my life for God and what motivates me to keep from sinning and what is my source of strength when it comes to overcoming sin and temptation. I must say that I am very excited to read this book and see how it impacts me over the next 102 days that are left in the semester. I believe that God is stirring something up, not only in me but on this campus because big changes are going to be happening and I feel it.

The principle that really stood out to me from the book was the idea that when some people try not to sin, they simply will themselves not to sin and if they are successful, they then attribute their "willpower" to the accomplishment. What the author is saying here is that people "will worship" in that they worship the will of themselves instead of worshiping God for his strength and his will to be made perfect in them. We might ask God for strength to overcome sin but sometimes we like to give ourselves a pat on the back when we do "good." This is a misconception that in the author's eyes makes sin grow stronger in your life. You keep giving yourself this false sense of hope that you can overcome it because one time you did not feel like sinning but then the next time, you give in and get upset. I agree with the author because when God is directing your life and his will for your life is being revealed, then you will continue to overcome because God will be sufficient for your needs. We cannot deny the fact that God is perfect and he is the only one who can make us perfect. We were born without sin but we are fallible and thus became sinners and through his grace we are made perfect.

I hope you all had a good time reading this and I hope all is well with you. Please let me know if you have anything you would like for me to pray with or for you about.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson