Your Will Be Done

"Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matthew 26:38 & 39

Our Lord and Savior anguishing before the Father, moments before the guards come for Him. I think it is so amazing to see the picture of our Lord's conquering in action. Do you know what the true definition of a conqueror is? One that obeys the Father, even unto death. Walk with me real quick, there are a few things I want to mention about this passage of scripture.

I used to have this big misconception about our Lord. I figured since He is God in the flesh, this task wasn't really that hard for Him. I may have not come right out and said it, but I think I felt it. I mean come on, He's God, no? I knew about this passage of scripture, but I guess the thought that He was Almighty trumped any belief that this was actually hard for Him. But guess what... I was sadly mistaken. Hebrews 5:8 says, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;" So we see here that our God did not pull any punches with Himself. He knows what it is like to be in the flesh, thats why it says in Hebrews 4:15, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." He sympathizes with us! He loves us so much, that He wasn't about to give Himself the easy road out!

The end result of the Lord revealing this to me was me repenting. How are your affections towards our Saviors sacrifice? I know we are not to base everything on feeling, but do not underestimate the power of feeling about Jesus the way the Father does. Why are we more than conquerors? Because He CONQUERED! HE OVERCAME! It was not easy, please, if there is something inside of you, as there was me, that kind of waters down what He did, repent for it and pray to God that He allows you to feel about Jesus how He feels. Anytime we feel our love growing cold for Him, stoke the fire again through prayer!

Another thing the Lord revealed to me through this was what I am authorized to pray for. I didn't know what was ok and what wasn't. I would wonder if He was even concerned with certain things I prayed for, given that it may not have been His will. And while I had this question on my heart, God brought to my mind this passage of Jesus in the garden. Notice, Jesus prays His will at first. Jesus was hoping for another way to get this job accomplished, but notice He filtered it with "not My will but Your will be done". So now, I do not question certain things I pray, I just say to the Lord "not my will but Your's be done". And remember this is within reason, I mean, God does not advocate anything I pray that would be considered sin. This is illustrated in James 4:3, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." And Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." God desires to grant the desires of our heart, but He does not desire furthering our sinful behavior.

So pray over your issues with faith and fervor, it is ok. Just understand that God loves it when our hearts our genuinely geared towards His will being done, no matter what that means for us. There is something about asking the Father, even though He knows our needs. James 4:2 says, "Ye have not because ye ask not." So ask!

Let's continue walking in the beautiful example Jesus Christ has laid out for us. Remember, it's ok to make mention of your will and desires (as long as it is not advocating sin) but just filter it through the words "not my will, but Your will be done."