This is part two on the will; you can find part one here.
How do we know when it is time to let go of activating our will in a particular area of our life? We need to learn when we have reached the limits of our character. This is an important principle for understanding how our will cooperates with God’s will. The basic idea is that when we want to correct a fault or when we try to make progress in an area there is a point at which we cannot go further because we do not yet have the character to do so. God has not yet transformed us enough. For example, we may not be patient enough, or a habit is too strong, or we don’t have enough faith.
Once we reach the end of our character then we need to wait for more grace from God before we can make any more progress. The grace may come through a variety of sources. Prayer is the first course of action. Grace may come through meditation on Scripture. Grace may also come through a spiritual counselor, a book or a sermon. Grace may come through others laying hands on you and praying. Or grace may just come with time, or a combination of the above. But if you try to proceed without more grace then you will just be forcing the matter with your own strength and you will not find spiritual transformation.
“Once we reach the end of our character then we need to wait for more grace from God before we can make any more progress. “
On the other hand, sometimes we think we are not able to change something because we need something more when in fact we do not need anything more. God has already provided the strength inside us. It is a change that is within our character and if we commit ourselves to it then the change will come. A simple exercise will illustrate this in your life. Think of a minor bad habit that you want to break. Commit yourself to abstaining from the habit for one week. Most people will find that they can abstain. If you can’t abstain in spite of activating your will while consciously depending on God’s power then it is probably outside your character.
Our will grows stronger with every little decision in God’s direction. Remember that what you are doing is letting your new self dominate your life so that you can develop a healthy relationship – with God. You are putting aside your destructive desires and living out of the connection between your new nature and God’s Spirit inside you. You are giving freedom to this connection. Sometimes it is distasteful but that is just the feeling of your old self dying. It is good to taste this. It is good to embrace this and even look forward to it. Don’t we do the same thing in any close human relationship we have? Therefore, rejoice when you can put the old destructive self to death.
