We are forever trying to exert our will over our lives and circumstances. Yet God gives us a much better way, His will.
"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42).
When we pray, “Not my will, but your will be done,” and “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,” we recognize the inherent futility of assuming our will is superior to God's. It is not.
Thankfully, God's ways are not our ways. While we want the way of ease and what we think are good earthly outcomes from difficult situations, ultimately as Christians we want His will. Whatever that looks like, we trust that He knows what is best. So, when we pray like this, we are trusting God to answer in the best possible way, which is His way not ours.
No matter how much we worry, stress or rail against what is going on in our lives, we will ultimately and thankfully, "never prevail against the will of God, which is the only rest for our souls. Our own wills have undone us and are our disease, our prison, and our death, till they are brought over to the will of God." Should we therefore distrustfully strive against His will and prefer our own instead? (Richard Baxter, "Dying Thoughts," pg. 101)
"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42).
When we pray, “Not my will, but your will be done,” and “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,” we recognize the inherent futility of assuming our will is superior to God's. It is not.
Thankfully, God's ways are not our ways. While we want the way of ease and what we think are good earthly outcomes from difficult situations, ultimately as Christians we want His will. Whatever that looks like, we trust that He knows what is best. So, when we pray like this, we are trusting God to answer in the best possible way, which is His way not ours.
No matter how much we worry, stress or rail against what is going on in our lives, we will ultimately and thankfully, "never prevail against the will of God, which is the only rest for our souls. Our own wills have undone us and are our disease, our prison, and our death, till they are brought over to the will of God." Should we therefore distrustfully strive against His will and prefer our own instead? (Richard Baxter, "Dying Thoughts," pg. 101)
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