Word of the Week - Willing Spirit

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:12

So what exactly is a Willing Spirit?  When it comes to our walk with the Lord, being positioned to say “yes” to what God has for us and where God is leading us, knowing that He loves us as a good Father and has our best interest at heart.  If you have children, you can definitely understand and relate to this concept.  There is nothing more challenging than a child that is defiant and lacks a Willing Spirit.  This is simply difficult and not in the best interest of the child or the family but for some reason, which is typically due to a skewed perspective, a child can create their own demise by not being willing to take the lead from parents. Parents typically know what is best and have the child’s best interest at heart but they cannot help the child if the child is not willing to be helped, especially as kids become teenagers and young adults. Similarly as children of the living God, we tend to think we know better; therefore we don’t have a Willing Spirit” and we choose to go our own way, which always leads to less than the best outcome.King David knew that his posture towards the Lord was key to his blessing from the Lord.  Knowing that God alone is our source, we must position our hearts and minds to receive what God has for us and be open and willing vessels, with the “Yes Lord” on the inside.  The verses prior to the one above help us understand how to posture ourselves to receive what God has for us “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me ¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”  Psalm 51:10-11.  This shows David’s dependence upon the Lord and his deep desire for God’s presence in his life, knowing he could not even trust his own motives but needed the Holy Spirit within him.  I pray that we will posture ourselves to allow God to grant us a Willing Spirt so we can receive all that God has for us; for He has great things in store for each of us.  Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Have a great week…-Duane