“For it is God who works in
you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Phil. 2:13).
A person’s will can be a powerful thing! So what
is your will to live? What causes you to get up in the morning, and/or stay up
late at night? Ravi Zacharias said, “The will is a strong but fragile part of
every human life, and it matters in the rich weaving of your tapestry that is
in the making” (The
Grand Weaver,
p. 114).
My grandmother Boughan was a strong Christian
woman, who got cancer; the doctors gave her 6 months to live yet she lived for
6 years. She was determined to live and be a difference maker; she had a reason
for living and the will to help motivate her. Thus, she had a strong will to
live right: that is in a way that pleases God.
Josiah was a king who did just that. His
grandfather Manasseh was one of the most immoral kings that the Southern
Kingdom of Judah ever had. Similarly, Josiah’s father Amon was immoral.
However, Josiah became king at only 8 years old and he was one of the best
kings that the nation ever had. What made the difference? Josiah did four
things that can help strengthen our will to live.
First, Josiah began with the end in mind. He witnessed what his father and grandfather had been like
as kings and how it had not gone well for either of them, so he decided to
change things. 2 Kings 22:2 tells us that he refused to turn to the right or to
the left. He had a laser focus on the end which he desired, and his desires
were lined up with God’s desires.
Second, Josiah, admitted his mistakes and
sought to change them.
When he learned God’s Word concerning idols, he owned the mistake/sin and
cleaned house, removing the idols that were present in his kingdom.
Third, Josiah always sought to grow. Stephen Covey
said, “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit,
reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” Therefore, what is the
destiny that you are going to reap based upon the thoughts that you are sowing?
Is it pleasing to God?
And fourth, Josiah was determined
to live his life for the Lord.
“Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the
LORD as he did--with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his
strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses” (2 Kings 23:25). Our enemy
the Devil has a plan to lead us away from living for the Lord. Thus, we must likewise
have a plan to overcome his attacks; that requires great determination.
Therefore, I encourage you this New Year to strengthen your
will to live right. Begin with the end in mind. Admit your mistakes and seek to
change them. Always seek to grow. And be determined to live for the Lord.
In His service,
Matt
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