Who’s Will is Driving Your Life?

 

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Luke 22:39-46 (NIV)

 


 

 

Picture yourself driving a wagon, tethered to 3 stubborn mules. You know where you need to go, and where you want to go, but you keep going in circles. One mule is hungry and keeps trying to head back to the barn for some hay, the second is panicked so is refusing to move, and the third mule is determined to meet it’s destination.

This is the perfect triad pull between our body, mind, and spirit, all wanting to lead us in the way they think we should go, all ignoring the other’s will, and using their strength to get their own way, leading us, eventually, nowhere.

Our bodies are wired to be self-protecting, to desire pleasure, and to avoid suffering. God created that in us. Our body desires pleasure and comfort, our minds want control and peace, and our spirit craves deep intimacy and purpose.

These are all desires God has put into our DNA for his will and purpose, Something God provided for us in the very beginning, in a garden full of fruit, a companion for our hearts, and God by our side.

When God created man, He did not just have a plan to meet our spiritual needs, but our physical and mental ones as well. When God created Adam, he made him in His image (which was good), and he created Eve for Adam’s emotional wellbeing. Our bodies were not an after thought to our spirits. God created us human, in his image, with a precious body, a beautiful mind and a spirit that longs to connect with Him. It was a beautiful trinity, meant to flow in perfect harmony. Meant to fulfill the greatest commandment of all. –  “Love the Lord Your God with all your heart (body), with all your mind, and with all your soul.”

As Christians we are taught that all our body’s (hearts) desires are evil “die to the flesh” we pray. We are taught that our minds are evil and that we should be ’simple & humble’ and just behave. We are also taught that our Spirit man must dominate, (but not too much or we become flaky). We are confused, because our entire walk with God seems like we are going nowhere, we are constantly trying to submit and lead 3 stubborn Mules without much success.

AsinoSo which mule should die?

How can  3 mules – our body(heart), mind and spirit, come into harmony and take us to the right destination laid out for us?

 1st realize one thing –  it’s not the mule that has to die- it’s the driver.

God created us to rely on Him. He desired for us to go to Him for all that we need; for strength, for rest, for pleasure, for satisfaction, and for provision. God desired for us to surrender and let Him lead us. 

Jesus understood the power of this directional battle, and he never discounted it as easy. He wrestled against the pull just like we do.

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Luke 22:39-46 (NIV)

Jesus was completely weakened, and overcome by the pull of his body that desired comfort, not suffering, and his mind that craved peace and not fear. Even Jesus was without strength to fight the pull, and he told God so. Then His father sent angels to minister to Him, and they strengthened Him.

Jesus was strengthened to surrender to His Father’s will. He let the spirit lead him, driven by his Father’s will, despite the longings of his body and mind. He took all of our sins and burdens upon him and walked toward the destination planned out for Him. He led it all to the destination Satan had planned for us. Jesus took the cup, arrived at his destination, and fulfilled the contract.

Jesus’s surrender lead him to death, so that our surrender will lead us to life.

When we surrender control over our entire lives, not just our spiritual lives, our entire lives, we give the reins to the Holy Spirit. He knows the destination, He knows the needs of each Mule, and he knows how to provide for each one.

Thy will be done – is the one and only recorded prayer that Jesus taught the disciples to pray. This one prayer encompassed the eternal 3-part pull and struggle to stay on the narrow path God has  for us.

 

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation.

But deliver us from the evil one. Mathew 6:9

 

Jesus did not teach them to pray, “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, help us to die to our flesh and not need food and comfort.” No, Jesus taught the disciples, to trust and seek God for physical comfort “Give us today day our daily bread.”

Jesus did not teach them to pray …”thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, help us to control our evil minds and AND hide us from the troubles and temptations of this world.”

No, Jesus taught them to trust God for their emotional (minds) peace, by asking God to help them handle the troubles and offenses that come our way. “And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from the evil one.”

God cares about the whole, all 3 stubborn mules and He knows how to drive them.  He knows when we need to stop for rest, and not pursue so hard our purpose, He knows when we need to deal with issues in our heart that are plaguing our minds, he knows when we need to push hard and persevere even when we want to quit. God knows how to get us to our destination in one piece. 

So, hand them over. 

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You can read other Virtuous Woman Exposed devotionals, to inspire you and bring you closer to God HERE

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