GodSprings - January 4, 2016

My Will Vs. God’s Will

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10(NIV)

Many years ago there was a monk who needed olive oil, so he planted an olive tree sapling. After he finished planting it, he prayed, “Lord, my tree needs rain so its tender roots may drink and grow. Send gentle showers.” And the Lord send gentle showers. Then the monk prayed, “Lord my tree needs sun.” And the sun shone, gliding the once dripping clouds. “Now send frost, dear Lord, to strengthen its branches,” cried the monk. And soon the little tree was covered in sparkling frost, but by evening it had died.

Then the monk sought out a brother monk in his cell and told him of his strange experience. After hearing the story, the other monk said, “I also have planted a little tree. See how it is thriving! But I entrust my tree to its God. He who made it knows better than a man like me what it needs. I gave God no constraints or conditions, except to pray, ‘Lord send what it needs – whether that be a storm or sunshine, wind, rain, or frost. You made it, and you know the best what it needs.

Some prayers are harder to pray than others. It is hard to pray, “Your will be done” because it means giving up control of our own life. God has a will (or desire) for our life. But we also have a will (or desire) for our life. Only one will can be done at a time. Either God calls the shots or we call the shots. Either He is in control or we are in control. It’s not easy to pray like that because it means giving up control of our own life. But the fact is we aren’t really in control anyway. It only seems that way.

Let us change our prayers from being a shopping list to ‘Dear Lord send me what is most needed for me.’ God bless us all.