How to get your "want-er" working!

You know those things you should do, you know you ought to do -- but you really don’t want to do? There seems to be a disconnect between what we know is good and right, and what we actually do. Sometimes, our “want-er” just seems broken, and our do-er seems hopeless.

Many of us experience this dissonance in our habits. For instance, I know what I should eat, and I say that I want to eat healthy, but oftentimes I go for the quick, easy, and infinitely-better-tasting food. And I actually enjoy that choice for about a nano-second, before the regret sets in. The same can be true for exercise and a lot of other “good” things that seem right and good in our thinking, but we fail miserably in the “do-ing”.   

Why can’t we connect the dots between what we know to be good for us, and what we actually do?  

 

As Christians, we know that our personal relationship with God is actually the most important thing in our lives -- but it too, often falls victim to neglect and resistance. Let’s focus on the resistance for a moment. Ask yourself why you resist Him – because I assure you, there is a reason, even though it might be buried in your sub-conscious mind.

Chances are, though, you probably do know. Sometimes we are unwilling to spend time alone with God because we think that God wants something from us that we don’t want to give Him. In other words, we are “disagreeing” with the God who made us and loves us -- and wants only good things for us! So, you may tell yourself that now there are two strikes against you: you don’t want to do what you think He wants, and your’re disagreeing with, and ignoring Him...and you drift further, and further away.

There really is an easy way to get your “want-er” to 

agree with your “do-er”.

Stop wallowing in guilt and shame, and do with your Heavenly Father what you (usually) cannot do with any human being – be ruthlessly honest! Tell Him how you don’t want to give up this or that, tell Him that you’re afraid He won’t like you (or, worse yet, punish you!) if you don’t clean up your act before you come to Him. God is really, really big, and really, really compassionate. And He already knows! And what’s more, His Spirit within us pleads for us and strengthens us.  

Don’t try to change yourself -- it's above your pay-grade. Ask God to change you.

There's only one superpower, and it's not you! If you ask, His Spirit within you does all the heavy lifting. Stop trying to behave yourself into a relationship with God – and start “relationship-ing” yourself into behavior. Be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10), not in yourself. He shows up big-time in our weaknesses and loves us right into our very best selves (2 Corinthians 12:9). Little by little. Step by step. But you’ve got to show up. 

I have a song for everything.

"Extravagant" by Bethel Music