Day 7: Your Will
Jesus not only teaches on how we ought to pray but He models how we ought to pray. In stating that we should be asking for God’s will to be done, He knows very intricately, both the asking of God’s will, and the will itself. In the Garden of Gethesemane, as Jesus is praying and asking if there is another way to accomplish this task of atonement, He utters a beautiful phrase that sounds so similar and surrendered, “Not what I will, but what You will (Mk. 14:36).” In other words, “Not my will but Your’s be done.” Jesus speaks from an immense position of trust, a deep status of humility, and the only place we should be living from: active petition and participation in the will of God.
When I proposed to my wife, I came up with a romantic and creative plan. I took her to the place where we had our first date, the first place we held hands, and eventually, the location where I would ask her one of the most important questions I could ask in our relationship. I wrote a song for her and after singing it, I told her she was the most amazing woman I knew, and that I wanted to do life, family, and ministry with her. I asked her, “Will you marry me?” Long story short, she said, “Yes,” but I think a lot of us overlook the key to the question. It is a choice that is presented, a request for somebody to reveal their desire, and ultimately it is a powerful decision that is made when somebody responds to a question starting with the words, “Will you…”
As we look at this prayer, and as we pray this prayer, we are brought into a position of actually asking ourselves if our desire, decision, and choice is for God’s will to be done, or for our own. We are not just asking for God’s will, we are asking to participate in it. We are not just praying with words, we are praying with actions. Just as our Savior demonstrated His longing for God’s will to be done, He became the answer to that prayer in taking up the cross. For us, our goal is to not just to ask, but believe, receive, and participate in the only will that is perfect, good, and beautiful: the Lord’s will be done. Amen.
Action: As we start our days, it is vital to understand not only the importance of our words but our actions as well. One way of starting the day is by asking for the Lord’s Will to be done and asking for Him to make you aware of how it can be done in you, through you, around you, etc. Partner in His will by simply speaking and living: Abba, align me with Your Will.
