The Interior Life – Maintenance of the Inner Man -- Part 3: The Will

The Interior Life – Maintenance of the Inner Man -- Part 3: The Will

MESSAGE SUMMARY: Too many of us have bought into the hustle and bustle demanded by our lifestyles of today; therefore, we have little time, today, for thinking and praying. In the meantime, life is sailing by; and the inner person is neglected. We must awaken and maintain our inner lives as vigorously as we maintain our public lives – to take care of our souls and spirits as much as we take care of our bodies. Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, describes the characteristics of the inner life and the maintenance of the inner man: “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The will, in our inner life, is our God-given ability to choose. Often, we run into problems by not controlling our will – we go with the flow. Many of us have lost control of the will in our lives, and we yield control to the flesh. Our choices are stealing our lives away, and we don’t even realize that we have a choice. We must use our will to choose properly. We need to develop our “willpower” –  our control over our choices by -- choosing a task; creating a plan; and following the plan. We need to develop the power for gaining control over our will and directing our will toward a spirit-filled life in Jesus. Each of our lives is to be driven by the Holly Spirit through our inner person, thereby, yielding our lives to God’s will. The Holy Spirit enables us to do God’s will in our lives.

Have you, like the people in Joshua 24, chosen (i.e. will) to serve the Lord?

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:16; Psalms 40:8; Joshua 24:14-24.

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WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Are Given the Incredible Gift of the Holy Spirit - “your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way’””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/

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