“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done,” Luke 22:42 ESV. Even Our Savior faced a struggle with full surrender in the heat of battle. His self-denying garden prayer must become my own: “not my will, but Yours be done.” There is but one “salvation,” but the process of sanctification is day by day and moment by moment. I am quite proficient at making up excuses to avoid doing something I do not want to do. Simultaneously, I am equally adept at constructing convincing arguments within myself for what I want. However, neither of these skills is helpful to the person who wants to please God. In fact, there is constant danger of talking myself right over a cliff into a sea of selfishness and disobedience. Father help me pull away from carnal desires and to push deeper into surrender. Your Will first, Your Will always, and Your Will alone!
A serious pursuit of godliness requires an equally serious renunciation of worldliness. Too often, we measure spirituality with false scales. While being wisely selective with our public vices we are less so with our private attitudes and perspectives. In reality, it is the thoughts and intents of the heart where the greatest battles must be waged; our actions will ultimately align with the condition of our hearts. Lord God, You know me inside out, You are not fooled by human facades. Plow my heart with Your Word and Spirit and leave nothing unturned. Refresh my inward man that I may outwardly glorify You in all places at all times.
Amen......
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