Want to Want to

[Afishinado]

I came accross this idea the other day and it was something i had never heard put that way before. The idea is that sometimes in life you wont let God lead you in regards to certain areas of your life. So you offer a prayer to Him to want to want to change. Basically asking him for that desire to want to make changes in your life. As i began to think about this idea i really liked it. There are certainly areas in my life where i need to have a stronger or any desire to want to make changes. So the question for the board. Have you heard this before and can you offer any scriptures that might help in my study of this area / idea. I was doing some poking around the internet for the idea of a want to want to prayer but im not really finding any sermons or papers dealing with this notion. Anything you can offer is appreciated. I would like to basically formulate some biblical basis for a study leading to this idea.

[letsfish]

Sounds like you have personalized and specialized a prayer asking for strength and direction. You recognize the need to change and that you don't have it in you to change or how to change. A great condition to be in- God will work big in you.

[Afishinado]

Thanks for your comments Letsfish. This idea was something i never thought of in terms a thing to ask God for. Im curious if anyone knows of a biblial reference for someone asking God for the strenght to want to change.

[craigcw]

I think you might be looking for "humility". The humble person is one willing to be directed by the Lord.

[in 'em]

I think we often forget how real Satan is in our lives and the fleshly desire he tempts us with. I completely understand your question and thought and often find myself along the same lines in many areas of life. You like to do certain things, but know you shouldn't, but don't have the needed desire to change. There is definately more to it than a prayer, but that is definately a start. I will be thinking....

[Dullhook]

I would only like to add to the excellent points that others have made. :flowered:

All of us are on the verge of taking the next step (since it's a very long walk that we share with the Lord) but do need God's courage and strength to accomplish it. Only through prayer can we do it. If we ask Him in good faith and continue praying...He will answer us. This is His promise. We have to remember that God's ways are higher than ours and His time-table is not the same. :angel:

Psalm 27:14..."Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

The Words of Jesus~ John 16:33... "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Keep praying, repent your sins, and ask Jesus to make you the person He wants you to be and it will happen. :hearton:

[rimrock]

Well this is kind of a paradoxical situation. How do you want to want to when in your flesh you desire to work against God and as a Christian indwelt by the Spirit, God gives you a new desire to walk with Him? :crazy:

That’s the struggle. The fancy world is sanctification which is a never ending ongoing process. St. Paul struggled with sin, “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Roman 7:21-25).

The want to want to comes from the Spirit not from within your own desire that’s a foremost important foundation to build upon. “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). The Spirit of God is convicting you of areas of your life that need attention, which is a good sign since if you weren’t convicted the question would be if you even had the Spirit :ooo:. Convicting or wanting is a good sign! It’s a sign God is working in your life. No convicting you are in trouble!!! So take it in a way as an encouragement.

There is no magical mantra to prayer like saying want to want to, what is better is to know and trust in the promises of God not a mantra.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2).

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6).

Do you see Who does it all in those verses…it’s of God only! We are incapable of “deciding” and unfortunately this erroneous choosing theology is all over the Church today. Faith is a gift of God and “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

So to want to want isn’t something you can gain as it were for sanctification is only accomplished by God through discipleship (reading the Word, praying, giving of our time and resources, attending Church, receiving Communion, corporate and private worship…). There is no magic diet pill and there is no magic spiritual method. If you become a discipled-one (literal meaning of disciple) then you will be transformed.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your reasonable act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

The “work” of discipleship is the only way God has provided for us to be transformed, not a particular prayer method.