Dallas Willard writes:
"It is not the growth of “will power” we are looking for in spiritual formation, but transformation of all dimensions of the self under the direction of God, through a will surrendered to Him and applied appropriately to bring about personal change." (Dallas Willard, Getting Love Right, Kindle Locations 222-226)
We are not to work harder, or try harder, to self-transform into Christlikeness. To think that trying harder will achieve, e.g., the kind of love Jesus had, is to devalue Christ and diminish expectations. "Will power" (Richard Foster calls it "will worship") won't work.
But, as we surrender to Him, He transforms us. He produces spiritual "fruit" in us, which are qualities of His own being. As we abide in Christ, He gives us precisely what we cannot achieve in our own strength; viz., the ongoing meta-morphing of our heart into a heart like His.
(Click on the link and get Willard's beautiful little book, on Kindle, for $1.)
(On the powerlessness of will power to conquer addictions see Addiction and Grace, by Gerald May.)
