The Power of Choice and Will

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

No temptation, no lust is above our will. The war between temptation and will is determined by choice, our choice. Mind and spirit create reason and it is our reasoning ability that allows or disallows carnal desires to reign supreme.

Lust and carnal desire unfettered, “dominates the mind, despoils it of the wealth of its virtue, and drags it, poor and needy, now this way and now that, and even defending what is false as though it were true….Whoever wants to live rightly and honorably, if his will for this surpasses his will for temporal goods, achieves this great good so easily that to have what he wills is nothing other than the act of wiling.” Augustine

We might get blindsided by some lust. But once we are cognizant of it, then it becomes a matter of first, choice, then will.

Our number one choice should be God and His will. That is the right and virtuous way. No sin can be committed as long as we are in His way.

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there” (Isaiah 35:8-9)

Tapping into God in full faith and belief will enable God’s grace to fulfill, empower and guide us.

“My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

It is our choice and our will, but it’s God’s grace, God’s will and God’s way that saves.

Bill Hitchcock