The Will Power Myth

"I've always wanted to lose weight (or spend less money, get out of debt, learn to play an instrument, etc) but I lack the will power."

I've heard similar statements and said them myself time and again and I've come to realize just what a lie that statement is. Not that we intend to deceive others when we say it, but we are deceiving ourselves.

A statement about a lack of will power really boils down to two things. Either that thing really isn't important to us, or we lack faith.

That sounds harsh but I know it's true about me. I've wanted to lose weight and be fit and healthy for the past 25 years and no one could convince me that it wasn't important to me. Are you kidding? I think about it every hour of every day. Of COURSE it's important!

Is it more important to me than the things that I would have to give up in order to make it happen? That's the question I have to ask myself first. When the answer is yes and I'm still failing then I have to ask the next question. Do I really, truly believe that the Savior can heal this in me?

That is a hard question to answer honestly because I tend to answer it like this. "Of course I have faith in Him. But..."

There it is. That "but" that creeps in and qualifies my statement. It's usually followed by a comment about how weak I am. Guess what? That's still about my faith.

There is no "but" about my Savior's abilities. I have the choice to turn to Him and as soon as I do He will always heal me. The problem lies in the fact that I often give Him my trust only to revoke it again. Back and forth. "I trust you. Nevermind, I don't. Oh, wait, I trust you again."

This process of overcoming addiction is about learning to keep my trust in Him. To stop trying to fix myself, diet myself, exercise myself, change myself and heal myself. It's not about will power. It's about surrendering my will to Jesus Christ and allowing Him to carry my burdens.

Step One KEY PRINCIPLE: Admit that you, of yourself, are
powerless to overcome your addictions and that
your life has become unmanageable.

I know a lot of people that really hate that comment. I love it! It is so freeing! You mean that the reason that I can't heal myself is that I'm not supposed to be able to? Of course, that makes so much sense to me. I am so grateful to be learning these principles a bit at a time and turning my will over to Him who is mighty to save.

Once again my favorite scripture in Phillipians.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Phillipians 4:13

On my own I am nothing. With Christ I am everything. Now that is power!
~Emily