What does it mean to be “strong-willed”?

Someone who is strong-willed doesn’t give up easily.

A strong-willed person is determined.

Perseverance is a good thing when it comes to living life.

I think of the verse that tells us to “stand firm”…

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”—Ephesians 6:13

“Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” —1 Corinthians 15:58

But when I read the google definition that describes being “strong-willed” as, “tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield“...

I see that yes, this can be a good thing, but it can also be very dangerous if that “strong-will” isn’t submitted and consecrated unto God.

And I say this because of knowing myself…

You may or may not realize this about me, I may not always voice it, but I’m pretty strong-willed… and I notice that when I don’t have my will submitted to the Lord it can so quickly turn into more of a selfish, short-sighted kind of “stubbornness” —I can risk getting in my own way, I risk being blinded…I risk not being able to recognize and see when “it’s God”….

What if God has a certain, “unexpected” way He’d prefer to do something?

His ways are higher than “our ways.”

Is my will and my way truly submitted to Him?

How often I have to ask myself,

“Am I fully consecrated and submitted to Him?”

Because I know that my own stubbornness, my own strong-will can hold me back at a time when the Lord needs me to be let go of it, and be fully submitted to His will.

It’s a thing that often happens so quickly, and if I’m not already “submitted in advance”…. I can miss out because of me getting hung up in my own way.

I’ve realized just how powerful the prayer,

“Father, not my will, but YOUR WILL be done! Not how I think it should be done… Your ways are higher!”

This prayer is powerful, and it’s dangerous to our flesh… but it’s a good kind of “dangerous” from a loving Father who says, “Yes!” to that prayer, whether we really understand and grasp what we are praying in the moment or not.

Here are some questions I pondered this morning:

When was the last time I surrendered all to God?

When was the last time I checked to see if it was truly “Your will and not mine, Father!”……

When was the last time I surrendered in advance?

Or have I been stuck or blinded in, “…this is how I think it should look for You to do this thing You’re doing in the earth, God!”

When was the last time I had a heart-to-heart with God and submitted ALL of that to Him?

What if God wants to do something that could offend me?

Will I be able to see and know that it’s Him, or will I be blinded by my own will, my own ways?

I don’t know about you, but I want to be able to see God when He moves.

I want to be able to recognize when it’s Him, when He’s doing something that might be a little different or new or unexpected than I thought, or than I would have preferred.

I don’t want to be blinded by my own strong-will, by my own ways.

Consecration.

It’s one of the ways He prepares us for what He has in store.

Because it’s His heart that we’re a part of the things He’s doing in the earth.

Not only does He want us to be a part, He wants to do the work through us….

Consecration.

“Consecration” by Josh Garrels

“Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow with ceaseless praise
Take my voice and let me sing
Always only for my King
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with words from Thee
Oh I surrender all
To You my Savior
A living sacrifice I offer
Take me, my Lord
Take my will and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine
Take my silver and my gold
Not a might would I withhold
Take my love my Lord I pour
At your feet it’s treasure store
Take myself and I will
Ever only all for Thee
Oh I surrender all
To You my Savior
A living sacrifice I offer
Send Your fire upon the alter
Take me, my Lord”

Thank You, Father, for doing what You do set me free of getting trapped in my own strong will… You protect me from myself…and You love me enough to show me the these things, so that I won’t miss out on getting to be a part of what You’re wanting to do here in the earth. It’s all part of the invitation to be a part of Your Kingdom. And it’s because You love us and You have good plans for us.

And Your way is always higher than our way…may we never lose sight of that. Let us not lose sight of You, God, in the midst of all of our opinions, and all of our ways, and all of our preferences, and all of our wills… may we learn to lay it all down before You, that we’ll be able to see You with clarity and with great excitement and joy. ? Your wisdom and Your way, God, not mine. Help me, Lord.

-Heather ?