InSlaveryToChrist
Puritan Board Junior
This has been a burden in my heart recently: Can we truly will to do something (I want to use God's law/revealed will here as an example), though we are not acting for it? When I look at myself, I see myself praying frequently for change to positive in my relation to some of God's commandments, but then again am not taking any direct action or simply obeying the commandments.
While it may sound contradictory (to will, but not act), then again I'm reminded by Peter's denial -- how he rejected Christ three times, but yet believed in Christ at each moment (though not consciously). In other words, though Peter believed in Christ, he did not act in accord to his belief. And so, I'm forced to apply this to my own situation, where I'm indeed willing, but am not acting according to my will.
But then I'm reminded by Proverbs 23:7 that "as [man] thinketh in his heart, so is he." So, am I wrong to apply the relationship of faith and action to that of will and action?
I may not be able to respond to your suggested answers tomorrow, so I thank you in advance!
While it may sound contradictory (to will, but not act), then again I'm reminded by Peter's denial -- how he rejected Christ three times, but yet believed in Christ at each moment (though not consciously). In other words, though Peter believed in Christ, he did not act in accord to his belief. And so, I'm forced to apply this to my own situation, where I'm indeed willing, but am not acting according to my will.
But then I'm reminded by Proverbs 23:7 that "as [man] thinketh in his heart, so is he." So, am I wrong to apply the relationship of faith and action to that of will and action?
I may not be able to respond to your suggested answers tomorrow, so I thank you in advance!