Episode 31

I once heard it said that we are human beings not human doings, and yet we always feel like we need to be doing something. Right now, especially, I feel the need to do something, say something, make things better somehow. But how? In today’s episode, I read Bible verses that hold a promise that God will not only give us the ability to do the right thing, he will also give us the desire to do the right thing. Even more than simple ability, God gives us the power to do the things he calls us to do. If I don’t have the desire to do something that I feel like I ought to do, then there’s a good chance God’s power won’t be in me to do it. If God puts something on my heart to do, then he will also give me the ability to do it. If you hear yourself saying, “I really should…” Please stop and consider your motivation. Why should you do that thing? What is compelling you to do it? Guilt? Shame? Pride? Or conviction? When I read Philippians 2:13, I hear God saying to me, “Shawna, I will give you the ‘want to’ and the ‘can do’. This knowledge helps keep me from getting tripped up by an ‘ought to’.” This sounds like a good segue to pitch my book. After all, I wrote it to help set you free from those nagging voices in your head. But—in light of today’s message—rather than say, “You should buy my book,” I’ll simply tell you it’s available and let you decide if it will meet a need. Longing to Belong: Discovering the Joy of Acceptance is now available for purchase on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Walmart.com, Booksamillion.com and Christianbook.com. It’s also available for download to your Kindle or from the Apple store for your iBooks app. Or visit my website to purchase a copy at shawnamariebryant.com This week's scripture: Philippians 2:5–13