Your Will Be Done

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” -Luke 22:42

This week, I have been reading through the Gospel of Luke to focus and reflect on the steps of Jesus to the cross. Jesus continually displays perfect obedience to walk in the will of the Father. During this study, one thing is explicit: the disciples aspire for a contrasting will to be done - their own. During the intimate moments of the upper room, which included the King of Kings washing the disciples' feet, a dispute breaks out between the disciples on which will be the greatest when Lord Jesus establishes his kingdom (Luke 22:24). How can this be? How can these men who walked with the Son of God, witnessed His miracles, and sat at His feet while he taught on the call to serve, misunderstand their position in the Kingdom? 

The answers to these questions are rooted in one thing; our sinful flesh. When we examine our goals for this life and the yearnings we have for our families, they are often centered around one thing - us! You see, most of our resolutions are for our welfare rather than others. It was no different for the disciples. Their longing was that their will be done…not His. Is this true of you? 

On multiple occasions, the Word of God addresses this collision course of our fleshly desires versus our walk with the Lord. I believe this is the reason Jesus modeled our proper posture in prayer. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-10).”  Jesus focuses on the importance of walking in and praying for the Father’s will and gives us a compelling truth on how to exemplify it. We battle our self-centered desires by daily shifting our mindset to Him and His holiness (Philippians 2:5). We daily proclaim that His name be hallowed in our lives. His name is consecrated in the way we walk. His name is made holy in the way we raise our children. His name is hallowed…

What are things you are pursuing for yourself and your family? Do they honor the Lord? Do they align with your calling to be His disciple as we obediently go and make disciples? Is His name esteemed through your desires? If not, whose will are you chasing? Remember, if you're a born-again follower of Jesus, your life is not your own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are set apart for the Kingdom's work, called to serve and love. We are called to pursue His will. When Jesus said, “Not my will, but yours be done,” He surrendered His own will to God’s, fully convinced that His Father knew what was best. When we pray this way, we yield ourselves to God’s wisdom, trusting Him to work out what’s best for our lives, too (Romans 8:28).

I love you and consider it an honor to serve as your pastor.

Blessings,

Bro. Kris