August 2025

Volition Sector of Mind Circle

Devotion / Leave a Comment / By /

Volition Sector of Mind Circle

By Claire Wadsworth

Joshua 24:15 – “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Every day, we are faced with choices: what to think, how to feel, what to do, and, most importantly, who to follow. At the heart of these choices lies volition—our God-given ability to choose. While it is a divine gift, volition can either lead us toward God’s purposes or away from them, or in CWF terms : God-centred on the right side of the square or Self-centred on the left side.

Volition, simply put, is the capacity to will, to decide, to intend, and to act. From the beginning, God created humans in His image (Genesis 1:27), which includes the capacity to choose. This distinguishes us from the rest of creation. We are not mere automatons; we are relational beings with the power to engage with God in love, which always requires choice. However, the fall in Genesis 3 corrupted this capacity. Humanity began choosing independence from God, and the consequences were devastating. Yet in His grace, God has never removed our volitional capacity. Instead, He invites us into redemption, a restoration of our ability to choose to come back to the foot of the cross and realign ourselves with His will.

In Galatians 5:16, Paul encourages us, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Walking implies continuous volitional action, it is not passive. The Spirit empowers, but we still must choose. The Spirit Circle is where our deepest identity in Christ is found. When our will is aligned with our new identity, as beloved children of God, our choices begin to reflect His purposes. We are no longer driven by the chaos of sin but led by the peace of Christ. This is not about perfection (Praise God for that!!), but it is about alignment and submission. Romans 12:1-2 urges us to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” and “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Such transformation requires ongoing volitional surrender. But, our volition is under constant pressure, from within and without. The enemy, the world, and our own sinful nature all seek to distort or overwhelm our capacity to choose rightly. In many cultures, people live under external coercion, whether political, familial, or spiritual. Others suffer internal bondage, such as fear, trauma, guilt, and confusion. These can make healthy volitional action seem impossible. Yet, we have a God who sees and meets us there. Jesus stood before a man at the pool of Bethesda and asked, “Do you want to be well?” (John 5:6). This question pierces through layers of helplessness. It reveals that volition, however fragile, still exists. And with Christ, even the smallest “yes” becomes powerful.

This month I encourage us all to think, “How can I steward my volition well within the framework?” It may be by :

Inviting the Holy Spirit to lead : Begin each day by inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your choices. “Lord, today, I choose You. Help me surrender my will to Yours.”

By cultivating our heart : Notice what you feel. Anger, fear, joy, sadness, these emotions are windows into your values and can either lead to or hinder godly choices.

By renewing our mind : Feed your mind with Scripture and truth. What you believe affects what you choose. Replace lies with the truth of God’s Word.

By honouring our body : Our physical circleimpacts volition. Rest, nutrition, and rhythm helps us remain spiritually and emotionally resilient. Any change is often slow, therefore celebrate small victories, such as when you forgive someone or succeed in turning off the screen to pray and in choosing kindness over revenge.

I am curious as to which area /circle you find it most difficult to steward? Ask God to help you in those areas and seek to find growth in it.

Choosing God is not a one-time decision, but rather a daily “yes” to grace, truth, obedience, and love. It is a lifelong journey of aligning our will with the will of God. Just as Joshua declared, so we too must declare: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Let your volition not be anchored on left-sided self-effort, but in the right-sided all empowering grace of Christ. Making it not a burdensome task, but a joyful gift. I pray we all find this joy in volition this month as we “press on towards the goal.”

Volition in the CWF Framework and Counseling Practice

Blog / Leave a Comment / By /

Volition in the CWF Framework and Counseling Practice

By Jenny Oh

According to the Christian Wholeness Framework (CWF), volition resides within the Mind Circle, alongside thought, cognition, mood, and perception. Rather than being a singular faculty, volition represents an integrative function encompassing cognitive, motivational, emotional, and temperamental processes. It reflects a complex interplay of inner dynamics that shape an individual’s capacity for self-directed action.

In the context of counseling, volition refers to a client’s intrinsic ability and willingness to make decisions and act upon them. It signifies more than mere motivation; it embodies the transition from intention to sustained action. While motivation may initiate the desire for change, volition enables that desire to be transformed into consistent, purposeful behavior. It plays a pivotal role in therapy, influencing client engagement, goal adherence, and long-term transformation.

Clients exhibiting volitional behavior often experience a heightened sense of agency—they perceive themselves as active participants in shaping their own lives. Conversely, individuals with diminished volition may be acutely aware of their goals yet feel paralyzed in their ability to pursue them. This condition can be likened to functioning with a depleted fuel tank—possessing knowledge and intent, yet lacking the emotional or psychological energy to act. Several factors within the CWF’s circles, such as physical illness or poor sleep, can reduce volitional capacity.

In clinical psychology, extreme forms of diminished volition are observed in conditions such as avolition, a core symptom of disorders like schizophrenia and major depression. This profound lack of initiative or motivation can severely hinder daily functioning. Consequently, a central goal of therapy is to support clients in cultivating their volitional strength. Therapeutic techniques may include structured goal-setting, mindfulness practices, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and the development of self-efficacy—each aiming to reignite a client’s ability to choose and act.

Theological Reflections on Volition

Theologically, volition is rooted in the doctrine of free will—the God-given capacity to discern and choose between right and wrong. According to Dr. Steven R. Cook, “Volition tends the gate of our soul, determining what enters, its level of activity once inside, and the duration of its stay.” He argues that human consciousness is not passive but is actively shaped by our volitional decisions. Even subconscious acceptance of contradictory ideas may lead to cognitive dissonance and inner fragmentation, underscoring the vital role of volitional discernment.

In Christian anthropology, volition is not autonomous but influenced by reason (whether sound or flawed), emotion, life circumstances, and external coercion. While these forces shape the will, the Christian ideal is that volition be governed by the divine perspective, where God’s truth supersedes fluctuating human desires. This theological conviction affirms that all individuals—regardless of their psychological or emotional state—retain a fundamental ability to choose. Such an understanding is especially significant in counseling contexts, where clients often feel trapped in despair or helplessness. The belief that each person is created with inherent volitional capacity offers both hope and a pathway forward.

Augustine of Hippo, one of Christianity’s foundational theologians, regarded the will as the soul’s command center. He emphasized that God intended for the will and intellect to work in harmony, akin to a hand within a glove. For Augustine, the source of all human dysfunction lies in disordered will, and healing comes through the reordering of volition in alignment with divine love and truth. Restoration, then, involves not just intellectual assent but the transformation of the will—learning to desire rightly.

Biblical Insights into Volition

A compelling biblical example of impaired volition is found in the account of the man at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:5–8). Afflicted for 38 years, the man is asked by Jesus, “Do you want to be made well?” Instead of answering directly, he offers an explanation rooted in helplessness: “I have no one to put me into the pool… another steps down before me.” This response reflects a perceived lack of agency—a resignation to circumstances beyond his control.

Jesus’ response is telling: “Take up your bed and walk.” The act of rising, initiated by the man’s will in obedience to Christ’s command, precedes the miracle. This passage illustrates that even the smallest volitional act—rooted in faith—can trigger profound transformation. Scripture frequently affirms that incremental steps of faith, even as small as a mustard seed, can lead to significant change. This biblical insight aligns with therapeutic principles that emphasize gradual progress, resilience, and the cumulative effect of small, intentional actions. The biblical narrative reinforces a central theological claim: human beings are created with the ability to choose. Even amid suffering, uncertainty, or psychological distress, volition remains a vital faculty. It empowers individuals to persevere, to engage in transformative processes, and to align their lives with truth and purpose. In both therapeutic and theological domains, the cultivation of volition is foundational to healing, growth, and spiritual maturity.