Daily Devotional: The Will to Will
- David A. Case
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
By David A. Case
Life Saying:
In the end, actions win.
“…Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”— Mark 14:36
“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’”— Luke 9:23
The ability to choose against my own will is one of the most powerful and Christlike traits I can possess. As human beings, we can step outside our immediate desires and choose a better path. That capacity—to “will to will” something greater—is at the core of spiritual maturity.
Jesus showed this in Gethsemane. He didn’t want the pain, the isolation, or the sin-bearing weight of the cross. He asked for another way. Still, He chose the Father’s will. He didn’t feel like it. He didn’t want it. He did it anyway. That’s what love does.
Psalm 103 gives a picture of this kind of inner dialogue. David is speaking to his own soul: “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” He is not simply going with the flow of his feelings. He is directing them. He is choosing where his heart and mind will focus.
We see this echoed throughout Scripture. Deny self. Take up your cross. Choose life. These are not instructions to feel something. They are instructions to act, regardless of what we feel. They call us to override the selfish instinct with a deeper obedience.
The reward doesn’t always come quickly. That’s what makes it hard. Delayed gratification is a challenge to the flesh. We want comfort now. We want affirmation now. We want relief now. Yet Jesus calls us to die to self, to trust that a greater reward is coming—if not in this life, then in the next.
Here’s the irony: choosing against selfishness isn’t actually a loss. It’s the only true path to gain. God’s promises are sure. Every act of surrender is a seed planted. And where our treasure is, our heart will follow. That’s why I must keep choosing. That’s why I must train my will.
I can choose where to put my time, my thoughts, my energy, and my investment. Eventually, my heart will want what I’ve been choosing. God is not trying to strip away freedom. He is trying to restore the kind of freedom that only exists when I want what is good and true and eternal.
When I consistently choose what God wants, I get heart change. When I get heart change, I become someone who can be trusted with freedom—because what I want is what He wants.
Reflection Question
What is one area where you’ve been waiting to feel differently before obeying—and what would it look like to choose God’s way anyway?
Prayer
Father, I want to want what You want. I confess that too often I wait for my feelings to catch up before I obey. Strengthen my will to choose You. Teach me to lead my heart with truth. Help me follow even when it feels like a cross. I believe You will reward what I surrender. Amen.
Today’s Step of Obedience
Speak a Scripture of truth to yourself today—especially in an area where you’ve been delaying obedience. Choose action over feeling and let your will lead your heart.
This devotional was inspired by the book Heart Change Handbook by David A. Case. If you found it helpful, please consider it for your own self-study and suggest it to your church small group or recovery community as a basis for small group study.
If this message has encouraged you to pursue deeper transformation, I invite you to continue the journey through The Heart Change Handbook. It provides a practical, biblical path for spiritual growth and is an excellent resource for church small groups and recovery communities. Consider getting your copy today and introducing it to your group as a guide toward meaningful heart change.
👉 Learn more about Small Group Resources from Heart Change U.