Scripture indicates that Christ "emptied Himself" for the purpose of "death on a cross" (Php 2:5-8). The original plan, from the creation of the world, was His death on our behalf. So it strikes me as strange that Jesus would be in the Garden of Gethsemane praying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" (Matt 26:39). And yet ... He did. And I think we can learn more from this prayer than you might see at first look.
There are two basic components here. The first is His request, and the second is His ultimate aim. His prayer to His Father was, "Let this cup pass from Me." Now, He came for this purpose, so it sounds strange, but ... He asked. That tells us that we ... can ask. Jesus speaks of asking whatever you want (e.g., Matt 21:22; Mark 11:24; John 14:13-14). Ask. Ask without restriction. "Let your requests be made known to God" (Php 4:6). Like Jesus who knew what the plan was and asked anyway, we can and should ask ... without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17). That was Jesus's request, but the other part is His purpose. "Not My will." Isn't that interesting? I mean, we take it for granted because we've heard it so many times, but ... think about it. Do we pray that way? No. We get mad when He doesn't come through per our request. We get miffed or hurt. We moan and complain. But if we actually asked, "Not My will, but Yours," our response would be different. It would be, "Well, I guess this is God's will." It would be "God gives and God takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord." It would give us cause to "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess 5:18).
I think there would be so many benefits to us as Christ-followers if we prayed for His will, expected His will, and sought His will in everything at all times ... while we ask for whatever we want to ask. It was a nice phrase in Jesus's prayer, but I think it was actually His central theme ... and should be ours, too. Imagine a life ... a prayer life or the rest of life ... lived with "Not my will, but Yours" at its core.
2 comments:
This is often our failure in praying. We are told that what ever we pray for "in the name of Christ" will be granted. The problem is how rarely we're actually asking in His name (ie His will) and are actually asking in our name. When we conform our will to His is when all our prayers are answered in the way we are wanting.
Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work" (John 4:34). He said, " I have come down from heaven not to do My will but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38). He said, "I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent Me" (John 5:30). A prayer like that is wonderful, and a life lived in that manner would be an excellent life ... "Not my will, but Yours."
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