EXC Daily Office: Not My Will But Yours Be Done

Reading through this blog is something that I rarely do. I know, You might think I'd want to kind of chronicle our relationship, what You've taught me, what I'm still struggling with, etc. Maybe I should do that more often in attempt to remember. Today, it was really important for me to just scroll through and look at some of the other Daily Office posts. I was especially struck by a post a wrote about humility bringing about hope. It still seems that I'm hoping that my strength and planning ability, or that of Exodus, will bring about change and transformation in the lives of others. As I read that post again, I see that You were trying to teach me that it is You who transforms the hearts and minds of a community, family, individual.

Again then, my prayer life must start from what my desires are and appeal to the true characteristics of Your nature. You truly are a Father, guiding us through significant life changes and challenges, not dictating but allowing us to choose the nature of our relationship, of our service, of many things. Bless our good choices. When we choose to be faithful, show us Your mercy. We we choose to be unfaithful, show us Your mercy, bring us back. But more than anything, teach me to pray:

Not my will but Yours be done.

I realize how much good intelligent music and lyrics make me think. Obviously, just a couple posts ago I used My Epic's "-" as inspiration to bring me closer to You. Today, I'm struck with mewithoutYou's "A Stick, a Carrot, & String." The part that really gets at what I'm praying about is this:

but does not the Father guide the Son?
not my will, but yours be done.
what else here to do?
what else me, but You?

What else is there in the Really Real Reality other than the will of our LORD? What else? Anybody have a good answer to this question? As I've been memorizing Deuteronomy 6, obviously a key part of that Scripture is what Jesus sites as the most important commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Couple that with 1 John, where showing love to God is equated with obedience to him, and all the sudden I could reword the most important commandment as "Love God by obeying him, by carrying out His will."

Now of course, even as I sit here and type to You I'm aware of all the complications of Your will. First of all, how do we know what it is? Well, a simple and adequate answer You have given me time and time again. Your will is always seeking the good for whatever situation we find ourselves in. It certainly isn't an easy answer and it doesn't remove me from having to think. Let's just give an example here. A tennis player is about to walk into my room in 10 minutes. He's been dealing with a lot. I want to see how things are going. What's the good in this situation? Do I pray with him? Do I try to quote Scripture? Do I just shoot the breeze and build relationship? Do I talk to him about his own faults that are causing some of his problems? What will bring about the most good?

I want not my will but Yours. What I am remembering (just to bring this all back around to the beginning) is that I have to trust that the Spirit will guide and direct me to the good. I trust that You are great and that You will work in me and through me. I trust that Your will can be done in every situation. And so I have hope.

What else is there to do? What else me, but You?