Sometimes we find ourselves in a reluctant position when God requires certain things of us. We discover how strong our will is when it struggles to surrender. We have often referred to the journey the Lord has taken us through where He has worked with us to make an unwilling vessel willing, for His glory, His good pleasure and, incidentally and finally, for my good pleasure! Paul declared, Philippians 2:1, “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure”.
The moment the Lord asks us to do something we do not want to, we find our unruly heart begins to speak to us, murmuring our self will. This is the time and opportunity (“time and chance” Ecclesiastes 9:11), to ASSURE our hearts and have CONFIDENCE in our Almighty God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:19- 21 “Hereby we know we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God”. When the testing comes, if I do not assure my wavering heart to have confidence in God, I will begin to have problems.
Why is it my prayers are not being answered? Do I waver between two opinions, tossed and uncertain? James deals with this position referring to the trial of our faith working patience. God uses it to perfect His work in us to manifest the nature of His Son. James 1:4-8 “But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, NOTHING WAVERING, for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. FOR LET NOT THAT MAN THINK THAT HE SHALL RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways”. Selah.
If my heart is wavering, still tossed by my ever changing circumstances, then according to this scripture, I will not receive the answer to my prayers. I cannot trust the emotions of my feelings, they are unreliable and deceiving. This is why Jesus Christ needs to rule my heart and mind. My warrant is the unchanging Word of God. Only what He says is true. Faith in God’s word is creative. It fulfils God’s will and purposes without me propping it up. “So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please. and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”, Isaiah 55:11.
Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. LET – “the letting” is a choice. Surrender, let go, be still. Settle it in your heart, assure your heart and have confidence in the finished work of the resurrected Christ. He is risen! It is finished! There is nothing more to be done from heaven’s side – just mine in human responsibility to keep my heart on track, one with my Saviour.
Is your heart settled? No more wavering? “….choose you this day whom you will serve”.
