Not What I Will

Mine! Me first! What about me? – words that toddlers shout out loud and adults silently swirl around in their mind. We scold our children for saying such things and we never admit we think such things. It is ugly and we know better than to shout out how we feel. We are selfish, focused on what we want, depend too much on our abilities and are driven by selfish gain. Yet, here we are, Christ followers. Our selfish desires are not a part of us becoming like Christ. No. Jesus - our Savior, our hope, our example – at His darkest moment, tormented and crying out to His Father, prayed, “Not what I will, but what You will.”

“Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Mark 14:32-36

This scripture, these words spoken by my Savior, shreds my heart. He has known our suffering. He has felt our pain. Those closest to Him betrayed Him. Judas accepted money to turn Him over to the those who wanted to crucify Him. Peter, James and John slept while Jesus cried out to God. He woke them up twice, pleading for them to stay awake and pray – yet, they fell back asleep. He was alone. He had no one, but God. He knew that God was enough. He cried out and made His request known to His daddy. Can you imagine the heartbreak of them both? But instead of demanding His way, declaring He had done enough, and throwing an all-out tantrum, He surrendered His will and prayed for God’s will to be done.

This is the ultimate example that God’s will is best, that He will use all we go through for good, and that He will provide what we need. We foolishly place what we know, think and feel above God’s will. We have got to stop that! So, the next time we want to scream, “Mine! Me first! What about me?”, let’s stop and ask, “What would Jesus do?” Let’s do what Jesus did.

Let’s fall on the ground and onto our knees.

Let’s cry out to our Heavenly Father.

Let’s boldly proclaim,

“Not what I will, but what You will.”

Note from Pam:

I am praying for you today. I don't know what you are going through, but I do know that God is enough to carry you through. His will is always best. So, I pray that you will surrender to His will and that you will stay right in the center of it. Pray the same for me, please. Love to you!

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