Self Will

Scripture:  And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Luke 15:11-24

Self will always rejects authority.  In the process of rejecting God’s authority, people are ultimately rejecting God who has placed authorities and boundaries in our lives for our good/protection.  God’s will for us is revealed in God’s word.  Self will always struggles with the authority of the Bible.  Self will is never content in the Father’s house.  The prodigal son left his father’s house and went to a far country.  When we are led by our self will, we will become restless – and we will make hasty decisions.  Have you ever experienced this?  You don’t have to physically move to a far country to leave the “Father’s house”.
Self will may start off subtly and ends up openly or apparent to everyone around you.  The prodigal foolishly used up his inheritance.  When we get away from the Father, we tend to foolishly waste or misuse what has been given to us.  There are consequences to our hasty decisions and/or sinful lifestyle.  Self will causes problems in relationships.  The prodigal son’s father was grieved and disappointed.  The older son was angry and irritated.  The prodigal son ended up losing everything that he had, and he had to feed the swine.  God has a way of getting our attention when we go to a far country spiritually.  

Finally, the prodigal son came to himself, and he realized he needed to repent/turn back home to his father.  We have to return to our Heavenly Father and ask for forgiveness and yield to the Holy Spirit within us as Christians.  Applying the word of God to our lives will help us to surrender our self will.  Help us Lord.

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father:  Help us to totally surrender our self will to You. Help us to obey Your word.  All this I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.
(by Marsha Williams)