Not Our Will
“Father, you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” -Luke 22:42 (NLT)
Not your Will God, but our will be done. Yeah, I think I just said it and that’s what many of us want. We want God to conform to our wants, timing, and desires, but we forget that this life was meant to be selfless. Yet, we’re so consumed with ourselves to the extent that we’ve become selfish.
At some point in my life, I wanted my will & things my way. I wanted God to be ok with my ungodly soul tie. I wanted Him to let me attend parties and go to the lounge with friends. I didn’t want to feel God’s correction. I wanted God to let me enjoy my sin without any conviction and that’s the brutal reality of it. In all transparency, lately, I find myself rushing God’s timing in my single season, on my spiritual maturity, school, and a career that I don’t think I’ve been fully content with His will. Though that may not be everyone’s story, we all have things, feelings, mentalities, and habits that we’re not ready to be selfless with.
When Jesus prayed to God the Father about the agony He was preparing to endure for the entire world, He understood the struggle we have with wanting our own will. He understood what it felt like to have to trust God’s timing when life starts “lifing”. He understood what it was like to remember that God has a better plan for our life when life doesn’t seem like it can get better. He understood what it was like to be betrayed by the people close to us. Though he never sinned, He understood our nature to sin. However, Jesus never prayed His way out of His betrayal, deformation, persecution, or death. He was He submitted to it! He was selfless! He chose the Father’s will over His own will. He chose us over His comfort. He chose us over His life!
Nevertheless, we can never get God to conform to our will. Our selfishness can only cause us to never fully live in the purpose He has for us. We can start by being honest with God about what we want and what we don’t really want to give up for Him. Be Real! There is nothing we can hide from the Father who knows our hearts and everything about us. But, after our honesty, we should ask God to help us submit those things so that His will can be done in our lives. Thus, let our prayer be that we strive to live a selfless life that is submitted to Him.
& When We Don’t Understand
Our biggest life lessons is the ones where we don’t understand the “Why.” Some may be prepared and excited for the new year, while others have no manual on what to expect next.
This year, some of us may have experienced confusion, disappointment, grief, happiness, joy, or, like myself, the peace that only God can give. I had no plans this year. I knew I wanted to accomplish some things. I thought that I needed the vision board, the business plan, and the new year resolution to conquer the next year, but I didn’t feel eager to create one. I didn’t know what to expect for the year arriving, and I didn’t understand why I felt like that. I really just felt like it was a year to sit in the back seat & let God do the driving.
If only we’d choose to experience God’s peace for this new year instead of trying to figure everything out, then maybe we’d understand what Apostle Paul talked about in Philippians chapter 4. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
As this year approaches us, let’s give our car keys to God and put our passenger seatbelts on. In our lack of understanding about where He’s taking us, the things that may be happening in our lives, our feelings of stagnation, and the life events that we can’t fathom into words, God’s peace will teach you that everything is working together for your good. The good that grants you peace in not trying to understand, but knowing that God has you and your future in the palm of his hand. & so when we don’t understand, let’s look for God’s peace next year in our decision. & when you don’t understand, let God’s peace guide you in your purpose. & when we don’t understand, let’s look for God’s peace that protects our hearts and minds. & when we don’t understand, let's be willing to ride in the backseat and let God be your chauffeur.
Friendships (Part One)
“Surround yourself with people that build you up and encourage you to live out God’s plans for your life.”
I think we all know the saying that you are the company that you keep. Some may argue otherwise, but friends can tell you a lot about a person. Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17, ESV). In the simplest way, friendships can hinder you or push you in your purpose. Certain friendships can also be for a season or a lifetime. The people who enter our lives always have something we can connect to that sparks the friendship. It could be sharing something in common like shopping, dining, sports, or life experiences. Of course, we know that some friendships can spark by sharing the same negative feelings or opinions. However, Godly friendships should be our desire. The friends that God gives us can help and empower us discover things about ourselves.
This past year I've learned that it's vital to be careful about the people we let in our safe spaces because, in life, we have individuals who are "takers" and "givers." Takers in friendships expect benefits. They don't add any value to you as a person, an entrepreneur, or however, you see yourself. On the other hand, givers add value to someone and don’t expect anything from it. Givers in friendships are our "Iron." They are our guiders (Proverbs 12:26, AMP), help in any bad situation, and also know how to celebrate your wins. Most of all, givers attract the company of other givers.
Thus, in 2023 let our prayer be that God sends friends that will push us in our purpose as we push them. Let's be a magnet for other "Irons." But, most importantly, let's continue building our friendship with Jesus.
Letters to the Throne #2
Dear God,
When they said you use empty vessels, what kind of emptiness did they mean? The kind most of us feel seems like it’s too much damage to repair. The voids we feel sometimes feel better being filled our way. You said joy comes in the morning and honestly we can’t always find that joy. But, still we bring our emptiness to you in hopes that you’ll use it because only you can give us an everlasting filling.
God, I’m Empty
“We become aware of the void as we fill it”
If we could fill our own voids, many of us would be healed, fulfilled, and happy in all areas of our lives by now. However, what if I told you it is impossible for us as human beings to truly fill those empty places in our lives? Don't get me wrong, there are ways people can fill their voids, but most of our generation achieve that in negative ways. Some use social media, become workaholics, drink, smoke, get into wrong relationships, etc. However, they fail to recognize that those negative fillings have no long-term satisfaction. Most of the time, the things we use to occupy our feelings of emptiness don't contribute to our purpose in life.
Recently, I discovered that I have areas of my life that are voids that I was aware of but continued to fill with the wrong things. Ultimately, It was hard for me to embrace my feeling of emptiness because I failed to recognize that I wasn't completely healed or happy in this specific area of my life. The first step to filling our voids is honesty. It's important for our generation to be honest about those empty places. Whether it may be loneliness filled by platonic or intimate relationships, regret filled by anger, depression filled by drugs, or insecurities filled by attention. All of our emptiness have root causes. If we aren't honest about what hurt us or led us down a wrong spiral, we will never know what pure happiness, satisfaction, or healing may look like in our lives. The only way to be honest about those feelings of emptiness is, to be honest with God about it. God satisfies our soul (mind, will, and emotions) and fills it (Jeremiah 31:25). As a result of our honesty in voicing "God, I'm Empty" we allow Him to fill our emptiness (loneliness, anger, grief, etc.) with the things He knows we need.
The second step to filling our voids is forgiveness. The things that we choose not to forgive create voids in our lives. Most things that happen in our life result from our choices; others experience the effects of someone else's actions. It could be being neglected, bullied, growing up in a single-parent home, molestation, being cheated on, or anything that comes to your mind. Forgiveness is hard to swallow, but you can create so much beauty in your life when you finally heal from what hurt you. When God fills our voids, it is a different level of peace and joy that no human being can give or take away.