Things Would Be Easier If I Just Got Out Of The Way

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." --Philippines 2:13 This work "in you" is done by the Holy Spirit. He does these two things in us.

1. He creates within us a "will"--a desire--to do what pleases Him. If you have any desire to please God or do what is right, God's Spirit put that desire there. Because we have already learned that left to ourselves "there is none that seeketh after God".--Romans 3:11
2. He creates in us an ability to do God's good pleasure. We can be assured that if He puts a desire in us to please God. He is doing so because He expects to enable us to do just that. He doesn't create a desire in us for something that can't be accomplished.

In the text verse "do" means "energy". He gives us the divine energy--the power--to please God. This divine energy (power) to please God is called "grace". It is His undeserved help to accomplish what pleases Him. He is willing to give us all the grace--divine help--we need to do whatever He requires.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."--II Corinthians 9:8 God will always give us everything we need to do whatever He asks us to do. His grace is mediated to us by His Spirit as we say no to the flesh and say yes to God.

".......God resisteth the proud [the one insisting on his own way], and giveth grace [divine assistance] to the humble [the one submitting to God's Way]."--1 Peter 5:5 As long as we are insisting that we have our own way we can expect God to resist us. When we get in our place as a submissive creature, however, He immediately gives us sufficient grace.

[It is constantly amazing me what God willingly does when we submit our way in obedience to Him. And I often wonder why I must make it so hard. 1 Peter 5:5 is really good to think upon when we feel our prayers aren't being anwered. Maybe we are the problem and have things in our heart to take care of. Why would we think God would answer us when we only want our own way. God hates our pride and our way but He help those who humble themselves to God's Way. He is ready to give us the ability to do the things that please Him. This grace is simply amazing.] Some excerpts are taken from Jim Berg.