God's Work in the Believer by Jeanne Guyon

     What God is after is this: that you are always ready to yield your will to Him in a childlike way. By nature you are proud of your ability to reason, but God will often lead you in a way that is opposite to human philosophy. You must, therefore, become as a child with regard to your will.

     What we call the "death of the will" is the passing of your will into His will. It is that simple. Your will must change, not only as it controls your external actions, but also as it relates to your innermost desires. Many believers who begin to follow Christ stop short at this point. They cannot submit to this inward crucifixion which cripples the entire, carnal nature.

     When the self is left undealt with in the life of the believer, you can readily see how a religious monster is produced. It is possible for you to disdain worldliness but still be full of self. You may not practice what people consider to be obvious vices; but inside, the essential self-nature is still very much alive. God accomplishes His will in your life by an authority that is gentle and effective if you fully surrender yourself to Him. As you agree to His work within you, you will experience the sweet, sustaining sense of His hand. God does not force you to agree with Him. Rather, He makes it so that you are able to follow Him happily, even across dangerous cliffs. Your Lord is good, and so is the way He deals with you. When you see this, you will want to run quickly after Him wherever He goes.

     Be willing to give up everything to Him. This is vital to your progress. And remember, even this willingness is God's work in you. Happy are the people who yield to His discipline. -JG

Blessings to you, reader!