As I’ve interacted with people over the years when they are struggling with obedience, I’ve frequently encouraged them to pray, “Lord, make me willing to be made willing…” with however many “willing to be made willing” ‘s as it takes! I know I’ve had to pray that myself many times with many “willing to be made willing” ‘s.
I’m reading Joanna Weaver’s book Having a Mary Spirit and she writes on page 97, “It is one thing to want God’s will and quite another to do it. As we’ve seen, the human heart has a huge capacity for self-deception, and our flesh is contrary to His ways. So even when I’m nodding yes to Him, too often my actions are saying no.
“That’s why I keep returning to King David’s prayer in Psalm 51: ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me’ (verse 10, ASV). However, it is the last phrase of this prayer I’ve come to appreciate in a special way: ‘and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me’ (verse 12, NIV).”
Psalm 51:10, 12 and Joanna’s comments confirm our prayer to “be made willing to be made willing.” Sometimes, it’s only such a plea that can change our hearts. It’s totally God’s inner workings within us that creates a change.
On the other hand, I’ve been meditating on Isaiah 16:16-17a, “wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!” (NIV) The verbs in those two verses indicate it’s my choice–by choice! The Lord is saying, “do it!”
So, yes, we should beg for His mercy to make those heart changes and yes, at the same time, we’re supposed to decide to do it–and then do it! How does that paradox work? I’m still not completely sure. Maybe at different times? I’m not sure. Together? I’m not sure.
Maybe you have some ideas…
But in the meantime, I’ll keep praying and begging God to keep His promise to answer my “make me willing to be made willing…” and also by faith, obey!
The work of gaining salvation is one of copartnership, a joint operation. There is to be co-operation between God and the repentant sinner. This is necessary for the formation of right principles in the character. Man is to make earnest efforts to overcome that which hinders him from attaining to perfection. But he is wholly dependent upon God for success. Human effort of itself is not sufficient. Without the aid of divine power it avails nothing. God works and man works. Resistance of temptation must come from man, who must draw his power from God. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness. On the one side there is infinite wisdom, compassion, and power; on the other, weakness, sinfulness, absolute helplessness.
God wishes us to have the mastery over ourselves. But He cannot help us without our consent and co-operation. The divine Spirit works through the powers and faculties given to man. Of ourselves, we are not able to bring the purposes and desires and inclinations into harmony with the will of God; but if we are "willing to be made willing," the Saviour will accomplish this for us, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Hi Kathy,
When you say “Lord, make me willing to be made willing” with ….. “however many willings to be made willing it takes, do you mean that we should say this statement out in faith to the Lord as a prayer in total faith repeatedly everyday till our hearts are changed and we become totally obedient to God.
Thanks.
Thank you, Tim, for asking me about this. I think you have summarized well what I intended. My only additional explanation would be that we rarely reach “total obedience” in most things. Usually, there’s a continuing progress toward greater and greater surrender. And I also don’t think there’s a one time, all inclusive “willingness” that includes everything in our lives. The Bible talks of our position in Christ as total but our progress as ongoing. I hope these thoughts expand a little more my ideas. Thanks again for commenting.