July 23, 2021: God Will Give Us the Desires of Our Heart If We Are Willing to Listen to His Calling.

In the Book of Philippians, chapter 2, the Apostle Paul calls us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Many people have taken this verse out of content and believe that we must "work out" our salvation by doing good works for God. This is totally incorrect.

The Apostle Paul is stating that we must be willing to do the will of God in fear, or in awe, and/or reverence to Him. We must be willing to be in "submission" to the Holy Spirit in our lives so that God can do the work through us. By surrendering to the full power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, God will give us both the "will and to do"...for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2: 12-13 (NKJV)

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

And then again in the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul say the following:

Ephesians 2:10:

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Just as verses 8 & 9 in the Book of Ephesians speaks about God's grace for our salvation, (For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast) ...it is also through God's grace that God will produce His works through us. It is the same "grace" that saves us and to "will and to do" for His glory, not ours.

So how do we play a part in our service to God? How can I know if it is God doing the work through me or me trying to do the work for God? Good question!

As we come to absolute surrender of ourselves to God and step out of the way...we must first pray and ask God to show us what He wants to do through us, and second, them come to rest in Him and let Him show us through the Holy Spirit. God will give you the desires of your heart as we are fully surrendered to Him and lead us with joy in our hearts to serve him, not out of duty to Him.

Psalm 37:4-5

Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

It is when we are serving God out of our own efforts, trying to do the work through our own power that we lose heart and become discouraged and drop out of serving Him. When we are working under the power of the Holy Spirit, we are being super-charged every day in our service to Him.

PERSONAL COMMENT

May we always remember to be fully surrendered, day-by-day, moment-by-moment to our God and watch Him pour out His unconditional blessings upon us..."All of Him, none of us!"