“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:12-13

Some say it doesn’t matter that we sin because God loves us anyway. It certainly is true that he loves us even in our sin, but sin does break his heart. Loving God means obeying God the best way we can. We can’t say,” I will keep on sinning because God doesn’t care”. He does care. If the Holy Spirit is in us we have the desire to do his will even if we mess it up in the end. This means that we have a desire to live the life God has called us to. I also believe that after we receive the Holy Spirit that we are changed and that our old way of life feels wrong even if the old way is a hard life to kick. We have assurance in this passage that the life he has called us to isn’t ours to carry alone. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13 As we go through our day today let’s ask God to give us the desire of his heart not our own. Let us ask him for his power to follow through and stay the course and follow his will not our own.

Prayer

Merciful and Loving God, forgive me for living for myself. That’s when things get messy and flipped upside down. Forgive me for the times I am self-centered and not God centered. Help me to have the desire of your heart and I ask for your power to accomplish all of the things that you call me to. I pray this so that you can get all the glory when I succeed and I lean deeper into you when I don’t, knowing that you have a plan for my life. All things work for your good. In Jesus Na me, Amen.