Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 25, 2019
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Have you noticed that this journey on planet earth is an adventure? Just when you think that things are set, life throws you a curve and calls you to a challenge or a change.
That’s what my husband and I are dealing with now. We are facing down some life-altering decisions in the upcoming months and those decisions that we have to make may lead us down a path we don’t want to walk.
I mean, we really, really don’t want to walk this particular path.
So yesterday, I prayed.
My prayer wasn’t casual. It wasn’t a “Lord-if-you-feel-like-it” prayer. It was a begging, heart-aching prayer. “Lord! Please don’t let this happen! Please, please don’t make us walk this path.” My words were filled with passion and my heart ached.
Just a few seconds after pouring out my prayer, I thought, “I know I should be more surrendered. And, as much as I want things to work out the way I desire, I know I don’t understand the whole picture. I don’t see the beginning from the end or what the Lord has in store.”
With this, I prayed again. “Lord, you know my heart. You know my husband’s heart. We reallllllly don’t want to walk this path. I really don’t want this to happen. But Lord, no matter what, we are here to serve you. We want to glorify you. I trust you and I surrender to you. It’s not what I want, but I will trust you for whatever you choose for our lives.”
A quiet peace came into my heart at the recognition that He is Lord and I am not.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3).
This morning I gathered my Bible and journal to cuddle up in my quiet-time spot. While reading, I came across Matthew 25:39 when Jesus agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane right before His death. He did not want to suffer.
I immediately recognized that Jesus’ prayer looked a lot like mine. He prayed with passion. He called out to His Father and asked Him to give what He wanted. But then . . . He surrendered.
“My Father!” He said (with an exclamation point!) “If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me, yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” [NLT]
Jesus’ prayer was filled with ache and agony. He wanted God to give Him what He desired. But He still gave up to the Father who knew what was best and loved Him.
This is our model for prayer. Ask for what you want. Trust God for what He gives.
This is not easy. It involves laying down your life and believing that even though you cannot see what is ahead, that He knows the beginning from the end and will choose what is right for you and for His glory.
‘LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps’ (Jeremiah 10:23).
Prayer
Lord, no matter how difficult it is, please help me to always look to you and surrender my will to yours, even while I ask for what I desire. I trust you Lord. Amen.
Application
Pray over your desires today and use Jesus’ model of prayer as your guide.
Related Reading
Matthew 7:21; Romans 12:2; Luke 9:23-24
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Shana,
I wanted to take a minute to let you know I will be your prayer partner during this journey. Sometimes God ask us to live outside our comfort zone and human reasoning. Aren’t you glad he is not restricted to operating inside the realm of our human logic.
If I could offer a word of encouragement Jesus asked a tired fisherman, Simon Peter, for a boat to use as a platform to speak from. He also instructed Peter to cast his net into waters that held no fish just hours before.
When the exhausted fisherman made himself available, trusted Jesus and surrendered his human logic to obedience, then he received the blessings. The neat thing is not only did he receive a blessing he was able to bless James and John as well.
As you well know the story ends with a transformation. All that Peter knew and thought important suddenly was not important anymore. Peter forsook all he had and became a fisher of men.
I wouldn’t have a clue as to what transformation is on your horizon but I will be in prayer for you and your husband as you journey there.
Recently, I spent almost two weeks in the hospital. I had a surgery that was supposed to be a simple “in-and-out” procedure, but became complicated. After two more procedures I was left in a lot of pain. For ten days I lay in bed and kept asking God “Why?” By the tenth day I was pretty much out of faith and getting angry with Him. Then, as I was being tended to by a nurse, I saw a Catholic priest walk by my door. I hollered out to him. He came back and I told him of my situation and that I was confused about why God wasn’t healing me. He said two things: “God allows us to go through trials to help us grow stronger” and then he quoted Jesus at the Garden. He suggested I would be better off if I surrendered my situation to God’s will. Thanks you Shanna Shute for this article. It reminds me to always say, “Not my will, but thine be done.”