FOR IT IS GOD - PART 1

TUESDAY 30 MAY 2023

The earnest desire to do good in accordance with divine will - is a gift from God and it is in itself something real that God has added to the blessings of our faith walk with Him. More below!

Reference: Philippians 2:13 New Living Translation (NLT) "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."

Beloved, it is God working in you as a born again Christian. The light of His presence in you is marvelous, powerful and wonderful. Those who walk in this light know that something is working within them, radiating divine energy. In other words, divine energy is generated in them, which grants them the desire and the power to do what pleases God.

Have you not recognised that you don't walk alone, and that His extraordinary power works in you with a lot of dominating force? God has limitless power and influence over you because you're born of His Spirit. 1 John 4:4 (ESV) reads, "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." The concept which is of great significance in this Scripture is "for He who is in you is greater." He is the greater One in you, who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. And He did that before the foundation of the world. So even the desire to receive the glorious gospel that brought your salvation and the power to become His child when you received the gospel came from Him (See also John 1:12 ESV). It wasn't your own plan, because before the foundation of the world began, He already chose you.

John 15:16 says it all. You didn't choose me. I chose you...(NLT). So God didn't start by giving you, all of a sudden, the desire and power to please Him; He chose you ahead of time realm. To instantiate this, the Bible says, "For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like his Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory" (Romans 8:29-30 NLT).

God, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him, implies that He can't withhold His grace from you, owing to the active presence of your faith in Him. He has given us abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness in Christ Jesus (Romans 5:17 NIV). When you take advantage of His abundant provision of grace, you position yourself to do what pleases Him, bearing in mind that we don't please God by works or our self righteousness. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV). Stay tuned for Part 2. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 147:10-11; John 8:29; Colossians 1:9-10; Hebrews 13:21.

Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, I bless your name today and oftentimes because you included me in your plan for time and eternity. Your idea to continually prompt and inspire your desire in me is considered as astonishing in my life, and the internal workability of your Spirit has a profound influence on me, such that I'm empowered to keep fulfilling your good pleasure, in Jesus' Name, Amen!