Not My Will But Yours

Have you ever negotiated with God? I'm sure we all have in some way at some difficult time in our life.

Pricilla Shirer's brother Jonathan Evans spoke at his mother, Lois Evans's, funeral. She was a beautiful Christian, an inspiration to many and there were many praying around the world that she would be healed of the cancer that had taken hold of her body. It didn't happen the way they prayed but she received the ultimate healing as she enter her beautiful, forever home in Heaven.

As Jonathan shared at the funeral He said something that will forever stay with me. He said he was wrestling with God and asked "Didnt you hear us when we were praying?" "Where are you God?" Then He told God what His Word, the scriptures, say about praying and believing and God answering our prayers. And then He said to God, "This was a great opportunity that we could tangibly see Your glory. Everyone was praying around the world. This was an opportunity for us to see Your glory." He said that God answered Him, and said, "First of all you don't understand the nature of my victory. Just because I didn't answer it your way doesn’t mean I haven't answered your prayers anyway. There was only two answers to your prayers, she was going to be healed or she was going to be healed, she was going to live or she was going to live, she was going to be with family or she was going to be with family. Victory belongs to Me! The two answers to your prayers were Yes and Yes! You need to understand I am God and I am Sovereign and my game plan is bigger than one player on my field. You need to trust me with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. I'm the one that can make this crooked situation straight. As high as the Heavens are above the earth are My ways from your ways and My thoughts from your thoughts. We don't think the same! And P.S. Don't tell me how to get My glory."

Whoa, I don't know about you, but that hit home. We sometimes want to manipulate God. If you do this God then... If you would only .... think of how many would see Your power if... but we forget to pray, Not my will but Yours. 

Who are we to manipulate and bargain with a God who created the universe, is all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere? What makes us think that our ideas, our thoughts, our will could ever compare to His perfect plans, thoughts and will? And yet we do! We want our way because sometimes His way brings us through some very difficult storms and pain. We don't want that.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we shouldn't ask. I'm not saying we shouldn't share the desires of our heart with our loving Heavenly Father and even ask if He will take this situation from us. He wants us to come to Him and pray and pour out our hearts to Him.  But sometimes I wrestle with God. I want to control the situation. I come to Him as if I have all the answers and know what's best and tell Him how to fix it. 

No one wants to hurt. No one wants to suffer! No one wants to see others suffer and it all just doesn't seem fair, but it doesn't take away the fact that God is God. He told us that in this world we will have troubles, trial and tribulations but that He had overcome this world. He promised He would walk with us through the storms, He would lead us and guide us and He would never leave us or forsake us.

He is a loving God that loves us more than we can even comprehend. It may not make sense what is going on around you but He hasn't taken His eyes off of you for one second. He is working on your behalf.

Wherever you are today don't give up. Don't lose hope. Don't think because this or that happened that God turned His back on you or is not fighting for you. He loves you! Our part is to trust this Sovereign God. Our part is to just believe even when we can't see. Our part is to say as Jesus did, "Not my will but thine be done." It doesn't mean it will be easy but He will be with us.

I Bible Journaled this page yesterday to help me remember....

I don't need to tell God how to get His glory... I just need to trust Him more! Your will be done!

Isaiah 55: 8&9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your way and my thoughts than your thoughts."


Luke 22:41-42 (NIV)
He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”