DRIVERS OF CHANGE

For it is God who works in you both to WILL and to DO for His good pleasure – Philippians 2:13

It is customary, especially at the beginning of a New Year, for individuals to make resolutions that would involve one form of change or the other. These may include: dropping an old habit; adopting new hobbies; starting on a new diet or exercise schedule; or severing from an unholy vice. However, no sooner is the decision made than we usually revert to old ways. It is either that we are reaching out for too radical a change or we are severely limited in power to make the necessary changes.

Have you had occasions to make such commitments to change or to grow spiritually, only for you to experience frustration owing to a lack of the will and power to carry through? You are not alone in such experiences. Paul touched on this issue in his letter to the Philippians. As he encouraged them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, he assured that they would not be doing this on their own (2:12). God would energize and invigorate them to change and accomplish His tasks.

This passage refers to two vital Drivers of Change: DESIRE and DYNAMISM, both of which come from God, the Source of all good gifts (Jam.1:17). God is at work in us “both to WILL and to DO for His good pleasure”! That is, God gives us the DESIRE to change and grow; and also works in us with His “dunamis” – the dynamic POWER to make the actual changes. Desire is the starting point of all accomplishment. Feeble desire brings feeble results. Great desire produces great results. Dynamism is the inner impulse to soar. Helen Keller said, “Never consent to creep, when you feel an impulse to soar”!

God has not abandoned us to our struggles in the quest for positive change and spiritual growth. As we look up to Him, He creates in us the thirst for righteousness, the hunger for holiness, the desire for higher grounds, and the willingness to obey. In addition, He gives us the Power by His Spirit, to do what He wants – divine enablement to accomplish His Will. The power that compels us comes from the Spirit that indwells us. Acts 1:8 confirms this: “But you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me…”