I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, - Deut 30:19, NASB

The power of our free will is astounding! 

You may not have realized the power of your will, but from choosing (as an adult) what you eat, where you work, where you live, what you drive, what you wear, who you marry (although some of these things are orchestrated by God, and His choice is always the best for us, because He loves us), you have amazing power!

As a teacher in public school and a parent, I've learned, of course, to explain the expectations, then to warn a couple times when an infraction occurs, with the words, "You have a choice. You can choose to go by the rule, or choose to get a discipline writing assignment..." etc. 

We all know that, we want the best for the kids. Just like God, we only want to bless them and love them, and help them be successful, but they must just decided to obey; they must choose life. When a child has made a wrong choice, but then uses their will to make the right choice, we are glad. 

How much more is God, Who gives us every good thing, thrilled when we just decide to believe Him (Who never lies, for He is the Truth!)! 

But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God, being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised. - Romans 4:20-21, AMP

God gives every person a free will on purpose. Then He lovingly and continually woos us and teaches us His ways, as He can, and persuades us to believe Him, to trust Him. However, He will never override our free will! 

We can change our wills the moment we decide to think differently!

I've proven this to myself. For instance, while growing up and for a couple decades, I said many times, "I'm scared to fly." (I was fearful of many thing for decades, and the more I've learned about God's love for me, and experienced His faithfulness and goodness the more I've been truly delivered of many facets of fear--and now faith in God and His unchangeable Word rules my life! Hallelujah!).

However, in the late 1990s, I was in my last year of college in Texas, and advanced to compete in a Phi Beta Lambda national contest, in Florida. The college decided to pay for every cent of our trip, which included a couple days in Disney World, and even $200 in spending money. 

We were going to fly, of course. 

It only took me a couple minutes to activate my will; desire overtook the fear--even decades of it!--and I just decided that I was going to enjoy flying, so I could experience this free trip!

I decided to believe with a positive focus! (That's what faith is, loosely, although true faith is always based on and in alignment with the Word of God.)

So, it was no surprise that I highly enjoyed the experience of flying. It was a good thing, too, because on that trip, I had three planes rides over, and three back! My faith and joy in the LORD grew (I reminded Him a few times of the holy angels watching over me as we flew, and I thanked Him for them.)

After putting up for years with things that should never have happened, and realizing my prayers--heartfelt as they were--could never override the will of the other person involved, I just decided to make a major life change, for the good of myself and my 10-month-old daughter. (I have never regretted that!)

When I knew that, even as a single divorced mom of a three-year-old child, the LORD was moving me five hours away to a city 10 times bigger, where I didn't really know anyone, to start a new job, and a new life, I just decided to believe God and obey--even though I knew every other major person in my life would object and throw a fit. (I was right, but I've never regretted that decision either! My life and my baby's were changed in wonderful ways!)

When I got to that new city, and started learning about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues, I decided to be open to it--even after telling others for years that it was from hell (Once I learned the truth and received this wonderful empowerment that only comes from Heaven, I repented, and the LORD has forgiven me!). After researching it and being around many true Christians who spoke in tongues and English fluently, and were not weird, but very confident and successful, I just decided that, if it was from God, I wanted it. He granted my request in a beautiful, peaceful, glorious way! 

I'm so glad that the LORD gave me faith to move there, so I'd be taught the truth, and receive the baptism. However, He never controls our tongues or anything else; it is always a choice to speak in tongues by the power of the Holy Spirit, or not. I can choose to never speak in tongues again, although when I do, I speak mysteries, and the perfect plan of God for me, and for whomever else and whatever else I'm praying for. Hallelujah!

For one who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands him or catches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things].--I Cor. 14:2, AMP

After declaring I would never marry again, yet knowing when I met my dear husband that He was the plan of God for me, I resisted for quite a while, but I finally just decided to trust God. (My dear covenant husband and I have been married over 18 years. It has been challenging (because the enemy hates Christian marriage, which is a picture of Christ and the Church), but both my husband and I have just decided to trust God and continue to grow in Him and love each other, and we've truly had breakthroughs. He has made the bitter waters sweet (Ex. 15:25), and they get sweeter and sweeter, as only God can do! Hallelujah!)

When my daughter was in elementary, I just decided to follow God's leading to homeschool her in her 6th and 7th grades. Then, at His leading, I just decided to invest quite a lot of money (The LORD provided, through scholarships, my retirement account, and work, between my husband and me.) in sending her to the best private school in the area, where she attended starting in 8th grade, and graduated from.  I knew that she needed to smaller classes and loving attention and prayers of the teachers and other staff there. The other schools in the area were not good, and I just decided that God would help us do this--and He did! He is faithful!)

Fast forward many years; when my dear elderly and very disabled mom went into the hospital yet again, and had to have 24/7 care--but refused to go to a nursing home, and refused to hire someone--I prayed and just decided to submit to God's leading that my husband and I (hero that he is!) would move in and take care of her. We did, and it was a long five months, but she went to sleep peacefully, after getting right with the LORD after being unchurched and not in the Word for decades, praise God!). 

A month before that, I had just decided to obey God to go to a Bible college in another state, which would require us moving. Then, when I knew the LORD was directing us to move in with Mom, I didn't know the time frame, but I just decided to trust Him, and know that it would all work out. It did, and now, we will be moving to that other state for Bible college about four hours away. (He was faithful to stir me at the right time to sell the house, and has put His wonderful Grace all over the process! It is finished, and we can move any day!)

With our wills, we can choose most facets of our lives. 

With our wills, we can choose to do right or wrong.

With our wills, we can choose to believe someone--or not.

With our wills, we can choose to admit we need the saving Grace of Christ Jesus to be forgiven of our sins and be nborn again into a wonderful Zoe life (John 10:10), or to reject Him and go to hell, forever separated from all good.