How can we apply "not what I will, but what You will" daily? The Verse Under Discussion “Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” – Mark 14:36 What the Phrase Means - Jesus, fully God and fully man, voices His real human dread of the cross while yielding completely to the Father’s redemptive plan. - It models a deliberate, conscious surrender of personal desire to the Father’s higher, wiser purpose. - The statement is not resignation but trusting obedience; Jesus chooses the Father’s will though it costs everything. Why It Matters Today - Each of us daily faces choices where comfort, ambition, or fear conflict with God’s revealed will. - Taking Jesus’ words literally calls us to place God’s glory and kingdom purposes above personal preference in every sphere of life. Daily Application in Five Key Areas 1. Personal Decisions • Begin every morning by acknowledging God’s sovereign right over your schedule, finances, and goals. • Before committing to plans, pause and ask: “Is this consistent with God’s revealed will in Scripture?” 2. Relationships • Choose forgiveness over resentment (Ephesians 4:32). • Pursue sacrificial love in marriage, parenting, and friendships, even when feelings push the opposite way (John 13:34). 3. Work and Service • View your vocation as stewardship, not self-promotion (Colossians 3:23-24). • Serve in church or community roles that stretch you if they advance the gospel, trusting God’s enabling grace. 4. Trials and Suffering • When hardship strikes, affirm Romans 8:28 aloud, then ask God how to glorify Him through the trial rather than merely escape it. • Keep gratitude lists to fight the instinct for complaint (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 5. Moral Choices • Flee temptation immediately, no matter the personal cost (1 Corinthians 10:13). • Let Scripture, not culture, define right and wrong (Psalm 119:11). Scripture That Reinforces the Attitude - Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight. - Luke 9:23 – “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” - Romans 12:1-2 – Present your bodies as a living sacrifice… that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Philippians 2:5-8 – Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who humbled Himself… becoming obedient to death. Practical Habits That Cultivate Surrender • Start and end each day with a brief, earnest prayer: “Father, align my heart with Yours.” • Memorize key “surrender” verses; recite them whenever self-will rises. • Keep a journal of situations where you chose God’s will over your own; review it to see His faithfulness. • Fast periodically to train the body and mind to say no to legitimate cravings so you can say yes to God in harder areas. • Seek accountable fellowship; invite trusted believers to ask, “Are you yielding this to the Lord?” Potential Obstacles and Overcoming Them - Fear of Loss → Remember God never withholds what is truly good (Psalm 84:11). - Desire for Control → Meditate on God’s omniscience and goodness (Isaiah 55:8-9). - Doubt of God’s Care → Revisit the cross regularly; if He gave His Son, He will also give all we need (Romans 8:32). - Weariness → Rely on the Spirit’s power, not self-effort (Galatians 5:16). Encouragement to Persist Choosing “not what I will, but what You will” is a daily, sometimes moment-by-moment battle, yet it leads to peace, joy, and fruitfulness. As we imitate our Savior’s Gethsemane surrender, His resurrection power sustains and rewards our obedience. |
    |