Will Power Or His Power?

“It’s no use,” said Tom to his youth minister. “I’m unable to resist the temptation to sin. I’ve tried again and again to resist the devil and run from him when I’m tempted, but it never works. Something must be wrong with my willpower, so why should I try any longer?”

“Perhaps that’s the problem – trying to resist temptation with ‘willpower.’ No doubt it’s time to turn to God’s power,” said Jeremy.

Then he opened his Bible to Psalm 138:3 and read, “As soon as I pray, you answer me; You encourage me by giving me strength.”

The Psalmist had it right: Rather than using his power, he depended on God for His power. And as we read that verse, we can learn from his struggle how to be faithful to God. There must have been a period in the life of the Psalmist when he tried to “make it on his own” and was unsuccessful. From his failure came his success because he was willing to turn from will-power to God-power. Notice that he wrote, “As soon as I pray…”

He learned an important “life-lesson.” He could not resist the temptation to sin if he depended on himself. But “as soon as” he turned from himself to his Savior, he got exactly what he needed: “encouragement and strength” that comes only from God. So, he literally “gave up” on himself and his willpower. His power did not work.

There is nothing that pleases God more than for one of His children to depend on Him for “survival.” And, we must never forget that “as soon as” we call, He answers!

Prayer:  Help us, Lord, to be strong enough to be weak and to call on You for encouragement and strength. Make us aware of our own limits, and Your boundless love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.  Psalm 138:3