To live the Life that God intends...
4. I must be convinced that God's expectation for us is to be holy and that this miracle transformation is impossible without the Holy Spirit's power.
A christian's will in itself does not produce holiness, but it does initiate the circumstances in which holiness can be realized. One's conscious openness, dependancy, and expectation of receiving the necessary risen-life energy is essential and opens the "door" for the Holy Spirit to work! This openness to him and his supernatural empowering must be an attitude of the mind, not simply a passing thought. I resolve to say yes to anything He might wish to do in and through my life - He is soverein. It is then that I find myself moving into an entirely new dimension of living. The scenery changes, I realize my life is changing and that Jesus is being seen through me!
My will does in fact initiate this work and that same will continues to function daily as I open my Bible and read words and sentences using my intellect. But, I find I cannot credit my will with the adequate power to move me from where I am to where I need to be. The credit goes to God, the Holy Spirit. He is my life...He is my strength (Romans 8:9; Philippians 1:19).
Adapted from "Birthright" by David Needham
