“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing,”
Philippians 2:13-14 NLT
Have you been in a situation where someone was trying to help you, but those efforts might have made the issue worse? Ever try to change habits and behaviors in your life but came up short on those resolutions. No matter how well intended we may be, real change in our lives often takes a whole lot more than we have to offer.
Paul is telling us that God is working in us giving us both the desire and the power to effect real change in our lives. Through his Spirit, God is directing us to not only seek the changes we need, but gives the spirit to empower us to reach our goal of true change. Change that reflects the glory of our Father, that pleases him, not the world.
He adds the cherry on top of this empowered process of change by telling us to stop complaining and be thankful for what we have and what we will receive in his name. Change takes effort if it is going to get to the core of truthful dealing with our shortcomings. We cannot do such on our own, enter the Spirit of God to strengthen us and show us the way.
I truly want the desire and the power to continue renewing my life in Christ for I know that life will be one worth living! So lay aside your good intentions and seek the Power of God to usher in the pleasure of the Lord in your life.
In Christ
RJ