Not my will, but yours -  1 April 2010

“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:32-36

I wonder how I would have fared in the garden, a simple instruction; stay here and keep watch. Those disciples didn’t manage it; I guess that I wouldn’t have managed it either! Following simple instructions from Jesus still seems so difficult. Jesus knew what was in store for him when he went to pray, asking his Father to intervene to help him, yet following the will of his Father rather than what he might have preferred. He went from the garden on to the cross and all the suffering that process involved for him; setting us all an example of obedience.

When Jesus calls us do we answer in the same way, by doing his will not ours? When Jesus says ‘jump’ do we respond ‘how high!’ or do we answer ‘why’ or ‘what’s on the other side’ or ‘what’s the landing like’ or ‘I’m not sure I have the time.’ Our minds, our thinking, our anxieties can all interfere with our obedience to God’s call. We rationalise, we weigh up the pros and cons, we shy away from stepping outside of our comfort zone, and too easily we fail to respond. We adopt a ‘not my will, but yours when I agree’ approach; that’s much easier and less challenging, and certainly easier to live with (I’m assuming that your the same as me here!)

Today, reflect on your response to God’s call. Ask God to show you where you have got to, in the way of answering.

Father, give us all the desire to follow you more closely and more obediently so that your will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen