I’ve always marveled God’s willingness to wait for us to get ready to do his will. Willingness in faith is not self-evident, it’s a choice. God does not force us against our will. It’s called love. Yet we so often abuse that love. But when we finally are ready to accept it, we are amazed by its sweet power.

I’ve come to understand God’s will for us is the ultimate best. Yet we rebel. We are not willing to surrender our will and follow God’s leading. Stubbornly we refuse to do nothing but what we want. So God’s willingness to wait for us is also undeserved grace. Because God’s grace draws us to him in the end.

While we were still helpless [powerless to provide for our salvation], at the right time Christ died [as a substitute] for the ungodly. Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to willingly give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a good man [one who is noble and selfless and worthy] someone might even dare to die. But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8, AMP,*)

Willingness in Faith

You see, my friend, it’s always God first. God first seeks us and then we are able to respond to him. Not vice versa. Our salvation is God’s doing from start to finish. We need God’s grace to follow Jesus. And we need God’s grace to even want to do so. Because it does not come to us naturally.

Just like we need to pray for the willingness to forgive someone, we need to ask for help to surrender to God as well. First, we need willingness. Then we need the power to act on it. But, no fear, God has prepared us the way. We just need to keep on clinging to Jesus.

Gracious God,
We are so utterly dependent on you!
Thank you for loving us without measure.
Help us to want you and your ways.
And then empower us to follow Jesus wherever he leads us.
Bless us, Lord.
We do need it even though we do not deserve it.
Thank you, Lord.
Be blessed forever and ever.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Are you willing to follow Jesus?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you cling to Jesus as your way of life!

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses to Biblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.]

WilliPhoto by Niloy Biswas on Unsplash. Linking up today with Dance with Jesus and Five-minute Friday.