the will

Matthew 16:24 - Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

"Christ has taken the castle, both in-works and out-works, when He has taken the will - the proudest enemy that Christ has out of hell. When Saul rendered his will, he rendered his weapon. This is mortification, when Christ runs away with your will." - Samuel Rutherford

As a second-born, stubborn-from-the-womb, saved-by-the-grace-of-God human being, I was struck by Rutherford's quote. I have found it true in my life. My strong-will has probably been one of the greatest battlefields in my life. My parents can certainly testify to that. But Samuel Rutherford so eloquently described something that exposes a great truth: when Saul surrendered his will, he handed over his weapon also. When he gave up his stubbornness, he released his ability to fight back. That's why it's so difficult...I want to keep my ammunition, thank you very much. I still want a say, a vote, security, control, a back-up plan.

But no, Christ must run away with my will. That is the only way to truly follow Him. And when I finally stopped fighting the Holy Spirit, and handed over my weapon, I felt the freedom of being released from the will. It was instant change - the old was gone, the new has come. I had found Someone I couldn't out-fight, out-argue, or out-last.

It's a continual mortification process. As an adult, the stubbornness comes out in different ways. My strong-will still raises its ugly head, but the difference is that I gave it to Christ so He controls it. I still look down sometimes and find my weapon in my hand, but I am not under its control. I am in Christ - I have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.

All I have to do is let Christ run away with my will.

stand in the gap

And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. ~Ezekiel 22:30

I read this verse in my devotion a few days ago, and it really caught my attention. The context, of course, has to do with the wayward Israelites, but I believe that God will still ask us today to "stand in the gap" at times. It may be interceding for someone, standing in front of satan armed for battle, rebuilding broken relationships, standing for truth, or carrying on His work in a barren land.

I will!! was the battle cry I felt rising in me. I will stand in the gap! I want to be that person He can count on. But how? The power is not in me, I can assure you. I can stand up to satan and put on a brave face, but when he comes with his battering ram and volley of arrows, I fall to my knees, crying to Jesus. Satan knows exactly how to knock me down.

Psalm 18:34-39
He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand has held me up; Your gentleness and condescension have made me great.
You have given plenty of room for my steps under me, that my feet would not slip.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
I smote them so that they were not able to rise; they fell wounded under my feet.
For You have girded me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me and caused to bow down those who rose up against me.

God of angel armies, teach me how to fight. Train me for battle against the powers of this world. Empower me to hold this position.


"Let us not glide through this world then slip quietly into heaven, without having blown the trumpet long and loud for our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Let us see to it that the devil will hold a thanksgiving service in hell, when he gets the news of our departure from the field of battle." C.T. Studd

Charles Spurgeon

"If thou hast anything that perplexes thee, the simplest plan for thee will be, not to try to solve the difficulty, but to seek direction from heaven concerning it. If thou hast, at this moment, some doubt that is troubling thee, thy wisest plan will be, not to combat the doubt, but to come to Christ just as thou art, and to refer the doubt to Him."