God's Will vs Your Will

Beautiful People, 

Welcome to a new year, welcome to new possibilities. Like most of the world, I started the new year with a resolution; however, as the proceeding days were filled with mundane tasks, the strength of my resolution wilted. Out of frustration, I questioned the intent and integrity of this wishful promise I so eagerly made on January 1st. The solution to my abrupt and shallow resolution was a simple foundational shift—a resolution to do God’s will and not my own. So, I want to be bold and ask, how much is your New Year’s resolution rooted and built on God’s will? I don’t know if you have chosen a word or words to be your anchor and guide this year, but I would like to offer three words for reflection for today’s GMU: submit, entrust, and thrive.     

As Jesus was instructing His disciples, He pointed them to a fundamental principle of discipleship—death to self. “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” Matthew 16:24 ESV). To a first-century Jew, the cross meant one thing, a humiliating death. How peculiar that Jesus would require this as a prerequisite for discipleship. What did He mean by this? Later, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus gives us an answer to the importance of “carrying your cross.” In Gethsemane, Jesus submitted His will to the Father and entrusted Himself to the Father’s goodness so that we could thrive in God’s love. We carry our cross by submitting and entrusting our will to our Good Father. Resolutions are strengthened or weakened by choice. Our human will to create and sustain goodness is weak; however, God’s good and perfect will are strong and dependable. God’s will for our lives is not only for us to thrive but also to help those around us thrive in His love. Here is the good news for today, “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 ESV). God will work through us to do His perfect will if we submit, entrust, and let the Spirit thrive in us as we begin this new year of possibilities.