The Want To

By Joni and Friends|Published On: April 26, 2019|Categories: 4-Minute Radio Program|

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada

And I’m so glad you are listening today. Welcome to Joni and Friends.

O breath of life come sweeping through us

Revive your church with life and power

O breath of life come cleanse, renew us

And fit your church to meet this hour.

Our, um, little PC A church often sings that before the sermon is preached and it’s inviting the breath of God to sweep through us because it is only God who can make Scripture come alive. And it is only God who can give us the, oh, I don’t know, the “want to,” the desire to do His will. There are plenty of things we “ought” to do, but rarely do we have a desire to do them. We ought to forgive people who have offended us, we ought to love without strings attached, we ought to seek the good of others, we ought to put our spouse first, we ought to pray often, we oughta, oughta, oughta, …! But like Romans chapter 8 verse 7 says, “The mind of the flesh is hostile to God… it is not able to submit to the law of God.”

Believe me, if we end up ever wanting to forgive or wanting to love without conditions; if we ever desire to put somebody else first or pray often or read the Bible more… it’s only because God has placed that desire, that “want to” in our hearts. It’s a gift from the Holy Spirit. And it’s why the prayer in Psalm 119 is so helpful. It says, “Incline my heart O God to your testimonies” and elsewhere in the Bible it says, “Make glad the soul of your servant…O Lord.” If we pray that way, if we ask for God to incline our heart, make our soul glad, He’s going to do His heart-changing work within us. He will; He’ll incline your heart; He’ll make your heart so glad to do His bidding. In Ezekiel chapter 36, He says flat-out, I will put my spirit within you and cause you (get that), He causes us to walk. He’s gonna cause us to walk in His statutes. That is good news if you’re having trouble wanting to do what you ought to do.

When I’m not following through on things I should, I push myself to do the right thing, recognizing that, sure, ya, I’m probably doing it in the flesh, but I pray that as I do it God will nevertheless bless me with the desire and He will give me the happy desire to do the right thing. To actually forgive or pray more or read the Bible — study it more — love without strings attached. Now, doing this without having the desire to do this, isn’t hypocrisy. Dr. John Piper says, “Hypocrisy hides and it pretends that the “want to” is really there when it’s not.” No, no, no, no, God knows I’m not pretending. I want the Holy Spirit, oh please, give me the desire to do Your will as I move forward and do it. I want Him to make my heart conform to God’s will. Make my heart conform to my actions as I follow a righteous path. And you know what? He gives me the desire. He gives me the want to. And I delight walking in His statutes. And that’s not hypocrisy, it’s just a little lesson in how to grow in grace, making all your ought-to’s… happy want-to’s!

And if you need prayer support for this, then write us at joniradio.org. Let us know how we can pray for you. Again come to our website at joniradio.org.