"It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." Phil 2:13
I've been chewing on this verse this month (thanks to Miller Mom and Dad for putting it on the Family Calendar). My intention was to help my daughter(s) memorize it to alleviate the guilt I feel for not having taught them to memorize verses yet. And of course they are totally uninterested. But I'm enjoying reaping the benefits of meditating on it as I recite chunks aloud throughout the day, stressing different words and repeating, repeating, repeating.
At first it came as a relief. Oh Good. I don't have to muster the will power or energy. God will supply it.
Then I took it in a different direction. I need to stop taking the credit for being so awesome (sarcasm font: You can tell I have a real problem with self confidence). It is God working in me that allows me to do anything good. When I wonder what He's doing in my life, this is part of the answer.
Then I wondered: How does that tie in with free will? Once I [freely] choose God, He takes over the rest? I wish. More like - He's working in me but I still have to continue choosing to go in His direction.
And now I'm wondering: What about the people who aren't believers but are still doing good things that are being used by God? Does he work in them to will and to act as well? What about people who claim Christ but their lives aren't full of much will toward good actions?
So what started out as a relief and reorienting my perspective to give God credit has now ended up causing more doubts and questions.
I've been chewing on this verse this month (thanks to Miller Mom and Dad for putting it on the Family Calendar). My intention was to help my daughter(s) memorize it to alleviate the guilt I feel for not having taught them to memorize verses yet. And of course they are totally uninterested. But I'm enjoying reaping the benefits of meditating on it as I recite chunks aloud throughout the day, stressing different words and repeating, repeating, repeating.
At first it came as a relief. Oh Good. I don't have to muster the will power or energy. God will supply it.
Then I took it in a different direction. I need to stop taking the credit for being so awesome (sarcasm font: You can tell I have a real problem with self confidence). It is God working in me that allows me to do anything good. When I wonder what He's doing in my life, this is part of the answer.
Then I wondered: How does that tie in with free will? Once I [freely] choose God, He takes over the rest? I wish. More like - He's working in me but I still have to continue choosing to go in His direction.
And now I'm wondering: What about the people who aren't believers but are still doing good things that are being used by God? Does he work in them to will and to act as well? What about people who claim Christ but their lives aren't full of much will toward good actions?
So what started out as a relief and reorienting my perspective to give God credit has now ended up causing more doubts and questions.
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