“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.