About willfully choosing…

1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Each of us has a free will. In persons who are immature, their free will is moved about by the tides or winds of the moment. In the immature, without self-control and self-discipline, free will is really not so much free. The idea of free will implies we have an overt choice about our destination every hour. In the more mature, free will is used and gives way to willingness….willingness to work, willingness to share, willingness to love, and willingness to be part of the good of God's creation. As we mature, ironically expressed, we are more willing to be God's child as we seek His power to be mature in Him. One of the basic struggles of life is to tame the dark part of our nature. When our free will is given over to running rampant in the darkness we end up destroying ourselves and others. We tame and control our free will when we give over our free will to the will of God. Lastly, we tame and control our free will the most when we admit we cannot control our free will.