Willpower is a strong determination to do something or not to do something. We often hear the mantra “You can do anything you set your mind to.” and it seems we can, until we can’t. Willpower is not enough! Even the strongest willpower is not enough without the power of God. The truth is, even though we may have a strong willpower, we still need the Holy Spirit who has the real power to change us from within, His power will then flow through us giving us the power to change, conquer, and achieve our goals and desires when they are aligned with His will and purpose for our life.
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:25-26)
Apostle Paul said it best in Romans chapter 7, verses 15-19, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.” What Paul was saying is that as strong as our desire or our willpower may be, it is not enough to overcome all temptation or keep our lives honoring to the Lord. God offers us something stronger than willpower; He offers “Spirit Power.” No matter how strong our willpower may be, it is useless without the power of the Spirit.
Before we surrendered to Christ, our passions, habits, opinions, impulses, and lusts are fed by our flesh which feeds our will. But when we submit to Jesus, we switch from willpower to leaning on the power of the Spirit who lives within us. The Holy Spirit replaces self. It is His power that changes us from within. It is His power that enables us to do what is pleasing to God. Our will on its own lacks the ability to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8)
We cannot, by sheer force of will, love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength as scripture tells us in Mark 12:30. Willpower cannot change our desires. But the Spirit-empowered person has a change of heart. Once in residence in our hearts, the Holy Spirit begins fueling our will with His thoughts, perspective, wisdom, and love. Our lives begin to move in His direction, led by our Spirit-fueled will. The more we surrender to Him, the more power we have to follow the Lord’s leading.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Phillipians 2:13)
God knows our willpower is not enough to keep us on the right path. None of us, strong or weak willpower can live the way God wants us to live by willpower alone. So God sacrificed His son Jesus to die for us that we may live our life through Him, the Holy Spirit.
“Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29)
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10)
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6)
“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” (Job 26:14)
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)
We do not have to stress ourselves trying to change in our own selves, we need help and it starts from within. The Holy Spirit works from the inside out. The real power is God that flows through us in the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Love and Blessings…
EMMANUEL 