Not My Will, Thine Be Done

Will. What is will?

I looked up the definition of will and this is what I found: "Intend, desire, or wish to happen."

And to me, that's only partially right. To me it's more of something I do with a submissive heart. That makes little sense to some, I know.

To me, it used to be some kind of excuse for me not to get my own way. Like I would tell people what I wanted to do with my life and they would respond, "Yes, but is that God's will for you," and at that moment, I'd block the rest out because for me it seemed like an excuse. Looking back though, I realize that's a selfish way of thinking! (No duh!)

In the past few weeks, I've been learning a lot of will. And God's will for my life. But it's not just realizing it that I've learned. It's so much deeper than that. Everyone can know the words, "Let Thy will be done," but few can actually follow them. That's how it's been for me. All my life, I've heard those words, but it's just lately that I've realized the power behind them.

At first I thought, "Oh great! Is God's will for me going to send me to some random place in Asia to do missions work!" But then it struck me: Why would God's will for me be to do something I wouldn't have the passion to do?! He puts passions in each of our hearts and it's those passions that He wants us to follow.

Do you really think God would send me somewhere that He knew I would have no joy to be? I wouldn't be a good missionary or whatever if I was joyless, would I? No. That's for dang sure!

So I've finally embraced the importance of God's will. And about a month ago, I fully submitted myself to His will. No questions asked. No more hesitation. Whatever He calls me to do, I will do. Because I know He'll call me to do something I have a passion for. And if I don't have the passion for it now, I know for sure and for certain, that He'll plant that passion in my heart.

"’Neath the old olive trees,
’Neath the old olive trees,
Went the Savior alone on His knees:
“Not My will, Thine be done,”
cried the Father’s own Son,
As He knelt ’neath the old olive trees."

If Jesus can say those words and truly believe them, then so can I.