A Year 4 Transformation: Day 9-Developing a Will to Win

Passage of the Day:

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” ³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” ⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Matthew 26:36-41.

Reflection:

If Jesus turns to prayer in times of trouble, we should emulate this spiritual discipline. As Jesus pours out his heart in prayer, God’s will is His main focus. However, from a human perspective, if you don’t watch and pray, thoughts about giving into temptation will swirl within your mind. Therefore, the next time losing and negative thoughts enter your mind, remember that God’s Spirit is willing. Tapping into this spiritual presence, 2 Peter 1:3-4, is the difference between winning and losing spiritually.

Prayerful Action:

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses, 1 Timothy 6:11-12.

Renewing Your Mind:

Due to the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to forget the obligations that you have, Romans 8:12-13. The apostle Paul writes a letter to the Church at Rome, reminding Christians of their calling and duty to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25. Unfortunately, many people give up on their New Year resolutions early on in 2024, influenced by a strong-willed sinful nature. If you truly want to develop a will to win, you have to fight for biblical beliefs and your convictions.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

If you have been recently beat down by life or endured years of losses in life, staying optimistic can be tough. However, if you are willing to patiently wrestle with God in prayer, you can develop a will to win spiritually in life by fleeing past sinful desires.

by Jay Mankus