a drop of water

“To accept, with confidence in God, that I do not immediately have to have my way, releases me from the great pressure that anger, unforgiveness and the “need” to retaliate imposes upon my life.”

p. 74, Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard

The above quote (out of context from the main point) made me realize, that I often inaccurately use the idea of free will to justify my will.  I fall into thinking, because I have free will, then my actions to implement, ensure, and get my will are justified.  But what this line of prideful thought really says is that I am glorifying my own will as the righteous purest and most valuable expression of life and existence and that any infringment upon my will can only be wrong (evil).  When my will is not met, it is not just that “I have been wronged” but that I have the opportunity to acknowledge and embrace God’s will as a response inplace of the “anger, unforgiveness and the ‘need’ to retaliate.’”  Free will is not a justification for my own will; it is a freedom to consciously and intentionally choose, discover, and align my heart with God’s will.