Surrendering to God’s Will —

Surrendering to Thy Will Be Done –
June 19, 2025
Scripture focus – “And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless not my will but yours, be done.” Luke 22:41-42
As I mentioned yesterday, I am at the Allegheny West Annual Conference of the GMC with several hundred others and the theme of the week is – “Start Planting”. Already after the first day there has been much conversation in regards to the move of the Holy Spirit, Redemption, what it means to be called, and how we can all share the Gospel to the furthest points of the earth.

As I prayed through this last night before going to sleep, by thoughts were drawn to one very important question. “Are we in our individual lives seeking to answer God’s call on our life in the way God is calling us, or are seeking to experience God in the way that we want God to move in our life?” I know this is a lot to unpack so early in the morning. But I also know we are never going to know God’s call in our life when we allow the suggestions of the world, for other’s who are trying to get us to do what they want, or by trying to experience God not by the moving of the Holy Spirit but by the way we desire the Holy Spirit to move.

Let us be clear – we defeat the purpose of the Holy Spirit moving when we try to manage it instead of living into it. Imagine what would have happened if the early church at Pentecost said, that was nice and powerful, made me feel good, now I’m going back to my old way.

In the Gospel of Luke and all of the Gospels we see the passion of Christ right before his arrest and ultimately His crucifixion. Luke’s account speaks to me as how when Jesus knew what was ahead, the first thing Jesus did was pray. Not in a temple, or with His friends, just between He and the Father. It is important to note the prayer “If it be Your will.” Notice it wasn’t the will of the Disciples who were standing in the shadows, or hiding from what was ahead, it was the will of the Father. The ensuing verses in Luke describe great anguish and passion that Jesus needed to endure before Jesus came to the place where He needed to be, within the good and perfect will of God.

In the account of the Disciples after the ascension, what did they do? They prayed waiting for God to reveal the powerful call that would be placed on their lives. When they surrendered to God’s will – look what happen. Look what happened when they were willing to receive the Holy Spirit and live out God’s plan for their life.

Can the same thing happen again? It does all the time ! But it requires us to take and believe and trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit for the transformation of our lives, for the church, and for the church, and for those who are far off. We have a lot to surrender! We have a lot to avoid, because everyone tends to know what we need to do and that often gets in the way of God’s will. Sometimes it barricades us and keeps us from moving forward to what God is calling us to.

Closing with Acts 1:8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you ! Now what do we all need to surrender to allow that to happen – Have a great day, full of the Holy Spirit leading you to the place you are called to be. In the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.