The importance of willpower is that the root of all evil is the corruption of the will. It was Lucifer’s will that got him into trouble and cast out of heaven, Isaiah 14:13-14. Satan’s major attack is to diminish the willpower of all followers of Christ.

The importance of willpower is that it needs to operate in partnership with God grace, love and mercy. It is all about long-term goals not instant gratification, for the choices we make reach into eternity.

Christ’s Willpower

What strength of willpower did it take for Christ to go to the Cross and die in our place? He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:21.

It was not just the physical requirement of being mocked, beaten and whipped, it was the agony of taking the punishment of all the sin of the world. The wages of sin are death, Romans 6:23 and that death is separation from God. On Calvary the Son would know what it was to be separated by sin from the Father, Psalm 22:1.

It is no wonder Christ agonized and prayed for the cup to pass from Him, Matthew 26:39. However, the Son, first and foremost was wholly committed to doing the will of the Father, John 5:30. Like us, Jesus had a free will, but He submitted His will to the will of the Father.

Overcomer Promises

Jesus is the prime example of overcoming, for He overcame sin and death on our behalf.  Being an overcomer is really important to the child of God as endurance comes from total trust in God’s promises.

There are eight promises to the overcomer, Revelation 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21; and 21:7. However, it takes God-empowered willpower to be an overcomer. The true follower of Christ does not rely on personal strength. Our strength is made perfect in weakness, 2 Corinthians 12:9.

The importance of God-empowered willpower makes it easier to handle difficult situations. It gives us fortitude to push through hard times. The enemy ensures that we will go through fiery trials, but they are part of growing in faith. It takes faith in the promises of God to be an overcomer.

Realm of Willpower

The realm of willpower is the mind, for willpower is the master that rules the heart and keeps the soul of the follower of Christ on course. Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs of life, Proverbs 4:23. Therefore, the will of a true follower of Christ needs to be fully surrendered to Christ.

God-centered willpower assists in making daily choices that align with God’s will. It provides the ability for self-control, determines moral direction and overrides unwanted thoughts, feelings and impulses. It is the basis for acting calmly and coolly and provides the strength to make conscious decisions rather than acting on immediate desires and emotion.

A Reservoir

The person who thinks willpower is fixed and limited is easily defeated. The surrendered willpower of a follower of Christ is a reservoir that is self-renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

It takes the exercise of willpower to continuously seek the will of God, but the more you use your will, the stronger it becomes. The enemy of willpower being temptation, self-condemnation and stress. The enemy of the importance of willpower is the battle between the spirit and the flesh.

Take Every Thought Captive

We are heavenly treasure and we need to set our will to bring heaven to earth. The willpower that is surrendered to God’s will allows God to work through the believer and takes the believer beyond their own ability, Galatians 5:16,17.

Jesus taught us to pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Matthew 6:10. To desire that is not an emotional reaction, but a direction of the will.  We are instructed to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5. We are to set our affections on things above not on the things that are on earth, Colossians 3:2.

Followers of Christ are to set their willpower to do the will of God in all things big and small. Those who surrender their willpower to God will then begin to experience the piercing sweetness of an ongoing relationship with the God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, who indwell the believer, John 14:23.

Love by Choice

Believers are commanded to love God with all their heart, and with all their soul, and with all their mind, and with all their strength, Mark 12:30. That kind of love is not emotional love, but love that comes from a conscious decision of the will.

Emotional love is like the weather for it blows hot or cold depending on the current situation. However, willed love is a deliberate choice and a process. It begins as just a bud, then it blossoms and eventually produces good fruit. 

You make a conscious choice to love God, just as you choose to will to be good, or will to be holy. Before God every man is what he wills to be, for as a man thinks within himself, so he is, Proverbs 23:7.

Importance of Willpower

To underestimate the importance of God-surrendered willpower is to limit what God can do in and through us. Instead of flitting about idly without purpose or intelligent direction, or being emotional yo-yos, we will rise on steady wings. Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like an eagle, Isaiah 40:31.

 We are to continually grow into the fulness of what God has designed for us, 1 Corinthians 2:9. Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God. To a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ, Ephesians 4:13.

Such a position can never be reached without knowing the importance of the God-surrendered willpower and its control over our mind, actions and emotions. Such a walk is a journey as we become tuned to sing the praises of Him who loved us so much He gave His life for us and washed us from our sins with His own blood. Our constant prayer should be, Lord, let your will be done in my life.

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Dr. Wendy Stenberg-Tendys is a freelance writer who enjoys researching a topic and sharing words of encouragement from the Word of God.

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