Reading:
Willard, D., (2021). Renovation of the heart: Putting on the character of Christ.
Chapter 8: Transforming the Will (Heart or Spirit) and Character
Chapter 9: Transforming the Body
Discussion Prompt: Transforming the Will
Willard (2021) reframes submission to the will of God in the following way:
To succeed in identifying our will with God’s will is not, and is often mistakenly said, to have no will of our own. Far from it. To have no will is impossible. It would be to not even be a person. Rather, it is for the first time to have a will that is fully functional, not at war with itself, and capable of directing all of the parts of the self in harmony with one another under the direction of God. Now we do not hesitate to do what is right; and to do wrong we would have to work against ourselves. (p. 161)
Many times, we consider submission to an entity outside of ourselves as a loss of personhood. To a large degree, this is true when we consider fully submitting to another controlling person, an organization, or a government. This is not true when we submit to God. God, unlike earthly entities, does not simply take; He uses our submission in the process of making us whole.
For this discussion, do the following:
Based on chapter 8 of the Willard text, critique Willard’s take on the transformation of the will. Do you have reservations or concerns about the total submission Willard suggests is necessary? Why or why not? Or, is his take on submission of the will what you have been looking for so as to take the next step in your walk with Christ? Explain.
How do you see yourself implementing these ideas in the counseling room?
What hurdles do you foresee in helping clients understand these ideas, and how would you address them?
The post Reading:
Willard, D., (2021). Renovation of the heart: Putting on the character appeared first on Skilled Papers.
