How often do we mention in prayer, “Let Your will be done.”

Do we say this because we don’t know what to ask? Is it simply the best way to close out our prayer? Do we say it passively? The Father does not want us to stand there passively, waiting for things to happen, as though we have no choice.

Yahshua’s final prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane mentions this request, to let G-d’s will be done. It is an interesting pivot to what Yahshua had been saying to His disciples previously. He had always mentioned to His disciples that He sees what His Father is doing and does the same. Following His Father was like an instant reflex for Him. There was never a question. There was never a pause. They were always of the same mind. John 5:19,“Therefore, Yeshua said this to them: “Yes, indeed! I tell you that the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does, the Son does too.” The Garden of Gethsemane is the one time where Yahshua paused and agonized. He makes a request before the Father. Matthew 26:39, “Going on a little farther, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet — not what I want, but what you want!”

Do you know what this shows? Yahshua showed the greater love; a respectful, sacrificial, intimate, interconnected, and distinct relationship with the Father. He does not follow out of militant or robotic obedience. He fell on His face in anguish, sweating blood over what He knew He was going to face, and made a request. It was a pause… It wasn’t challenging G-d’s will, as Adam and Eve did in the garden.

When He made His request, He closed it by saying, “not what I want, but what you want.” He took what Adam and Eve did and brought it full circle. This comment showed the glorious revelation that Yahshua wanted us to know; when given the gift of free choice, we need to deny ourselves and make a deliberate choice to follow G-d’s will. Throughout Yahshua’s ministry, not once do we notice Him having to actively deny Himself to follow G-d. He followed joyously, almost effortlessly. But in Gethsemane, it was not a passive response, but willful and gut-wrenching choice. Yahshua set the example and paved the way for us. He denied Himself, and followed His Father, no matter what the cost.

Denying Yourself

Luke 9:23, “Then to everyone he said, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him say ‘No’ to himself, take up his execution-stake daily and keep following me.”   John 12:24, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless a grain of wheat that falls to the ground dies, it stays just a grain; but if it dies, it produces a big harvest.”   John 15:13, “No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends.”   That is what Gethsemane asked of Yahshua. When He said, “Not my will, but yours will be done” G-d did not act against Yahshua will, He actually respected it. Yahshua was the one who chose. He actively chose to do the Father’s will.

How We Follow

Yahshua did not ask us to serve Him will-lessly. He did not want to crucify and kill our will. He wants to know whether we truly want to do His will; with a sound mind that will walk the road to the end, from our own free will and desire.   Will-lessness would never show the strength to take the cup Yahshua was given. He chose in freedom, love, surrender, and He obeyed. Nobody took His life from Him. He willingly laid it down.   In our relationship with G-d, He wants to reveal to us His will. It will be done in truth and by His Spirit, so that we can be free to choose, and be a co-laborer in love, serving His Kingdom out of our own free will. The Spirit will never force us, for that would rob us of our will and freedom. His Spirit will present to you a clear revelation of His will and truth. The Spirit will then ask “Will you follow it?”   If you agree, if that is your choice, then you can say, “Father, what you decide (Your will) is important to me.” G-d respects and greatly values our free choice. Do not stand back from that which the Holy Spirit reveals as the will of G-d, and say, “If it is His will, it will come to pass.” The Father’s will does not “come to pass” with us passively standing on the sideline. It is revealed, so that we can make an active, Gethsemane, “I choose your will” decision.

Being of the Same Mind

We can be of one mind with G-d and still have freedom of choice. In the world’s eye, it is one or the other. Free choice gives you the freedom to rebel and reject, which Adam and Eve did.   So why is there a need to have free choice if we are always of the same mind? G-d created us with a free will. Yahshua had a free will. He was not in alignment with G-d out of passivity. His like-mindedness with the Father came with His choice to be one with the Father. The relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a complicated concept for us finite beings to wrap our head around. Oftentimes we think of the trinity as only extensions of G-d, but an extension of oneself cannot have two distinct wills. In this verse, “Not my will but yours” it showed that there are two distinct wills.   Being a body of believers requires us to all have the “mind of Christ” the mind of Yahshua. We can all be of the same mind. It is not a passive surrender, but a willful surrender to die to self and willfully follow Yashshua.   Acts 1:14, “These all devoted themselves single-mindedly to prayer, along with some women, including Miryam (Yahshua’s mother), and his brothers”   2 Corinthians 13:11, “And now, brothers, shalom! Put yourselves in order, pay attention to my advice, be of one mind, live in shalom — and the G-d of love and shalom will be with you.”   Ephesians 2:14, 4:3, “For He himself is our shalom — He has made us both one and has broken down the m’chitzah (dividing men and women) which divided us, and making every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit gives through the binding power of shalom.”   Philippians 1:17, 2:2, “While the former announce the Messiah out of selfish ambition, with impure motives, supposing they can stir up trouble for me in prison, then complete my joy by having a common purpose and a common love, by being one in heart and mind.”   When G-d created us with a free will and we choose “not my will but Yours,” we are actively deciding to be in one accord with the Father. It is not a passive thing. Oftentimes we need to press in, when times get difficult, to be of one mind. The decision is ours.   Choose, not because you owe Yahshua anything, choose out of the freedom of loving Him. Remember, His love has the quality of forgiveness; forgiveness which says “My child, you do not owe me anything, After all, I love you with an unconditional love.”   We can be of one mind and still be distinct individuals with free will. Isn’t that what Gethsemane has proved? Whether and how you respond to G-d’s love is our choice.   May we always cry out, “I am with you always G-d! I want to have your mind. I want to walk in Your ways!”