It all begins at the heart
Thank you Marques for this post!
You make the connection to the error in believing in free will. This highlights for me that the CONDITION of the heart is a prelude or a starting point, that pre-empts, anticipates and predicts the actions or responses of a person to a circumstance. God knows what we shall or shall not do or say, think or believe, BEFORE we do or think anything. God owns our emotions. He knows our fears. He feels our uncertainties and He is no stranger to our infirmities.
You post makes it more visible how much we need to acknowledge our dependence on Him. We actually depend, rely and urgently require HIM as our most vital need to change, elevate, strengthen, support and fortify our hearts with HIS Spirit. We can not see our own hearts except by the consequences of our actions. We do not know our own hearts until we see our own fruits of our spirits, thoughts and feelings. We do not see like God sees unless God causes us to see as He does.
1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.We cannot change or alter our spiritual condition. It is only through the Spirit of Christ that our hearts can be converted, changed, cleansed and prepared for the love and Spirit of God to find its habitation within us which is going to happen when He is all in all.
The addictive, seductive and widely held error in perception that anyone can be in control of anything be it actions, thoughts or dispositions, shows us again, the enormity of deception over so many people of all walks of life. This dark error has reached far wider than into just Christianity. It pervades everywhere and everyone, except those few, who have been blessed to see through the lie.
God has lifted us, who believe, out of error, freeing us from deception, liberating us out of bondage, and loving us into that freedom that is typified in the wholeness of Christ His Son. God cleans us up, changes our countenance and blesses us with the understanding of the Spirit, Heart and Mind of His Son Jesus Christ.
We can certainly say Thank God that His Will for us to be in the Image of His Son, He will finish and complete! What a glorious gift God has prepared for His Children.
Arc