My Will, Not Thine Be Done. A prayer most Christians would never dream of praying! But as the daily behavioral skin of the onion is peeled away, the end result may often be the same. Our will, not His.
I’m reminded of the greatest prophets of God reduced to dross and crying out for mercy. “Woe is me, I am undone” groaned Isaiah when he experienced his vision of the Almighty, high and lifted up.
Daniel embraced weeks of great mourning, fasting and prayer after a notable encounter with the Lord. “I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption and I retained no strength.“- Dan. 10:8-9
Daniel, Isaiah and others. Righteous men of God who sought after the Lord, and discovered in the face of His holiness their own righteousness was as “filthy rags.” –Isaiah 64:6 There are none righteous, no not one.
Many of us in the Body of Christ live lives of religious appeasement as we say our quick little prayers and proceed to do our own thing and fulfill our own desires. I have been guilty of the same and worse!
Maybe a deep sense of sorrow over sin fueled Peter’s passion to walk ever so closely with the Lord after he both cursed His holy name and denied Him. Not once but three times.
To think at the end of Peter’s life he requested to be crucified upside down, stating he was not worthy to die in the same manner of his Lord. Peter indeed learned from his failures, confessed his sin and went on to be a great apostle in the kingdom of God. Paul who tortured and murdered Christians, did the same. There is nothing too hard for the Lord. (Jeremiah 32)
Jesus said in Luke 6: 46, “Why do you call me Lord, but not do what I say?” The fact is one can not do what He says, if one does not take the time to hear what He says. I have come to learn the Holy Spirit of God, the comforter, counselor and guide who will lead us into all truth abides with us to do just that! In conjunction with an understanding of the scriptures we are equipped to fulfill God’s destiny for our lives. One decision, one step of obedience, one day at a time.
Romans 8:26 says, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.” Verse 27 says, “And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God…” According to the will of God, the authority of God, the Lordship of God.
So if the Holy Spirit prays through us according to the will of God, will we know what the will of God is? If we allow Him, the Holy Spirit will reveal the will of God to us. Ephesians 5:17 says, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Verse 18 says “…be filled with the Spirit.” Bingo! The vital piece so many of us miss. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?
The Spirit, (Presence) of the Lord carries with it the fullness of joy. It is not a burdensome thing to spend time in His Presence and discover His will, it is the most joyous thing in life. So why did I not live like this all my life?
As the prophet Hosea declared “my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” and as the seeds of wisdom and knowledge are planted within us the enemy comes to steal the seed or the cares of this world choke the seed. (Mark 4:19)
Living a lifestyle of intimacy with the Holy Spirit bears much fruit. As a matter of fact the fruit it bears is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control according to Galatians 5:22.
A powerful exchange of turmoil for peace, sorrow for joy and anger for gentleness. Who in their right mind, would not want this deal? Bye, bye anti-depressants and sleeping aids, hello joy!
AND the Holy Spirit comes bearing gifts! The Word of Knowledge, the Word of Wisdom, the Gift of Prophecy, the Gift of Faith, the Gifts of Healing, the Working of Miracles, the Discerning of Spirits, Diversity of Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues. Each one a powerful key to unlock mysteries of the super-natural promises of God meant for each one of us, not just a special few. For as Peter learned first hand “God is no respecter of persons.”
Aaahhh……doubtful? Think you can not know the Holy Spirit? Well you can.
The scripture describes him as a dove. A gentle, tender dove. Non-threatening, unlike a bird of prey, doves subsist on seeds and grain. They are particular about where they go, what they eat and are categorized as “clean” birds, not fowl of the air. The symbolism is perfect as this Holy Spirit Dove yearns for a sanctuary in our hearts to abide in. He desires to bring with Him treasured gifts, peace and the resultant work of sanctification. He is more gracious and forgiving than one can imagine and He waits to be invited into our hearts. He waits for you to prepare Him an abode.
Once the blood of Jesus has washed and cleansed you and his broken body has healed your broken spirit the Holy Spirit is ready to come. All you must do is earnestly, sincerely confess your sin and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Then invite the Holy Spirit to come and abide inside of you! He yearns to reveal Himself to you! Do not allow misappropriated priorities, the cares and distractions of life, self-will, sin and rebellion to build a wall between you and this gentle dove. He is your life line to the Father.
Don’t start this holiday season without Him! He wants to fill you with the joy, peace and extra-ordinary blessing of His Spirit. He may bring a life transforming word or give you bread for a desperately hungry soul that only you can feed. I bless the Holy Spirit of God, the lesser known person of God’s Trinity of Being and pray you will embrace Him with each sunrise. He awaits your invitation.