Prison Ministries

Posts Tagged ‘Romans 8:8’

Read Romans 8, Psalm 19
Give it Up!

“That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.” Romans 8:8 NLT

Self will is one of the hardest possessions to give up that we will ever own. All of our pride, all of our aspirations, all of our secular objectives are generated by our self will.

Self will is what got mankind into trouble with God in the first place. If Eve had just exercised a little self control instead of self will the world wouldn’t be in the shape it’s in today.

How many prayers have we prayed asking that God’s will be done, while actually meaning our will be done. How many times have we sought to justify our will or our agenda by trying to pass it off as the will of God?

The best antidote for destructive self will is abiding and seeking God’s will. Abiding will give us the very heart of God, and when we have that, we begin thinking His thoughts, become more sensitive to His leadings, and more centered on Christ and less on ourselves.

When we pray with Christ’s heart, it’s amazing at how many more of of prayers are answered, because our prayers are Christ centered, unselfish prayers that will glorify God and therefore are in accordance with

God’s will, and we learn and believe more and more that He really will do anything we ask that is in accordance with His will.

When we replace self will with God’s will, our whole attitude changes.

Instead of responding defensively and in anger, we respond in the fruit of the Spirit which takes over control of our flesh.

When we “give it up” we get so much more in return we will wonder why it took us so long to figure this out.

Father, help me to “give it up” so that you can “give it out”. In Jesus’ Name, Amen