It's so easy to focus on the outside things we long to see, for people to come to know Christ, and for our community to change. However, God also desires an internal change within each of us. We are invited to participate in a divine exchange of wills. Join us today as Louie explains this idea further and explains our last shift of perspective.
Summary
Are you willing to commit to a divine exchange of wills? Are you willing to say to God, “I know what I want to see happen in my life, but I’m willing to open my hands and lay down my plans because I believe that you know best, and so however you want to use me, I’m yours”?
Matthew 6:10 says, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
When Jesus told us to pray, the Greek word is Proseuxomai, which means: Properly, to exchange wishes; pray.
Literally, to intercede with the Lord by switching human wishes (ideas) for His wishes as He imparts faith ("divine persuasion").
As Jesus prayed in Gethsemane (Luke 22:41-42), He asked not for His will, but the Father's will be done. This exchange of prayer is where "My will" becomes "Thy will." Instead of telling God what we need Him to do, we ask Him what He wants us to do. We get to be a part of heaven coming to earth.
What's Next?
Our goal: To be constantly aware that my Father is the Sovereign King and He looks after me but He is also ruling everything. I don't give Him directives, I ask Him to direct me, and more than asking for answers, I ask to be the answer so that earth can see heaven in me.
Have your thoughts on prayer changed at all? Have you strengthened your relationship with your Father and deepened your faith?
Are you pausing to remember who He is?
Are you being molded from "My" to "Thy" will be done?
Scripture References
9.“This, then, is how you should pray:“ ‘Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,10.your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.
3.And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.4.Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5.Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6.and said:“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7.Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8.They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9.‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’10.“But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11.See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12.Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
23.On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24.When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25.You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:“ ‘Why do the nations rageand the peoples plot in vain?26.The kings of the earth rise upand the rulers band togetheragainst the Lordand against his anointed one.4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ’4:26 Psalm 2:1,227.Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28.They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29.Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
11.I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12.His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13.He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14.The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15.Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”19:15 Psalm 2:9 He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16.On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:king of kings and lord of lords.
41.He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42.“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
29.Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.