Willpower

December 30, 2011
I’m reading this article on willpower and it’s talking about it being like a muscle.  You’ve got to work it to make it stronger.  And it also says to flee temptation.  You don’t stick around temptation to see if your willpower is strong enough.  That’s so true!

So I got to thinking how can I practice willpower now?  Of course the first thing that popped in my mind is exercise.  I used to hate it – but now I feel bad if I skip it.  By forming a habit of working out – I strengthened my willpower and I ALMOST kinda like it now.  Another thing that I’ve got down is honey buns!  I LOVE them more than any food I can get here and I WILL NOT buy them!  Ooh… but when you heat them up… and they are warm and soft… and they melt in your mouth… mmm… gone in like 3 bites.  ANYWAYS – that was me dreaming about my honey bun days.  Now I’ve got WILLPOWER!  Honey buns = RELAPSE! 🙂  J/K

But what I really started thinking about was the fleeing temptation part.  How strong is my will gonna be when I get out?  How hard will it be for me to use my exit strategies I’m learning about?  What if it’s something I know I can get away with?  Now, I’m not talking about drugs here – I’m talking about the little stuff.  Like lying on a job application.  Or finding $20 in my mom’s jeans pockets when I’m washing clothes.  Or cheating on my tax return.  Or even running a stop sign.  Where is my will power then?

The Bible says to “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and do His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:12-13)

He gives me the will to do the right thing, even when He’s the only one looking.  Especially when He’s the only one looking.  You see – here’s my most recent temptation – there are these piano books in the chapel that are brand new.  They are not stamped chapel.  Nobody else plays the piano.  And I LOVE these books!  I want them to be mine!  And nobody would miss them if I took them when I leave this place.  The chapel clerk has even told me that they might as well be mine.  But I won’t do it.  I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling.  I am doing the right thing because God sees and I want to be pleasing and acceptable in His sight.  He’s strengthening my willpower because I’m gonna have some serious temptations in the real world and I’m gonna need His strength.  And I want to be ready!