God's will or my own?

I have been learning lately that God in all his authority purposes events beyond our control and for reasons even beyond our understanding. In my observation I have figured out it is not always for us to understand or even figure out but to just accept. I think acceptance of situations is the final and hardest thing to achieve. As humans we usually fight change or situations that are not at all of our choosing. Our struggles over situations and directly over our own thinking can be eased if we only accept what we so strongly fight.

I hate to say in such a way but we are nothing like Jesus. Or at least the majority of humans are not. See Jesus came to not only teach and preach about his Father and his love but to fulfill his destiny. Jesus was to ultimately sacrifice himself for all of mankind. Jesus never fought those who meant him harm. He never felt the desire to defend himself or "fight" the situations that were forming in order that his father's will be done. What Jesus did was pray and especially for God's will, his father's will to be done.

Mathew 26: 36-42
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there.''
And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.''
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.''
Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What, could you not watch with Me one hour?
"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.''
He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.''

I know that in this world we are given lives that may not be exactly what we desired. Events occur in our lives that leave us wondering, questioning and even grieving b/c we just need answers. Well our answers are found in the Bible and in our relationship with Jesus. It seems like a waste of our energy to fight what we can not change. I am not speaking of a physical fight but more of a emotional/ spiritual fight. One that is within each person. The fight or "battle of the will". We often become strong-willed or stubborn in order to get what we want. We battle with our desires against God's desires or will. If our children do this we tell them they are being willfully disobedient and discipline them. Yet in each of us we have a flawed desire to fight against God's supreme will for our lives. That fight is not accepting what he has for us or chooses to do in our lives. Some people are better at letting go and relaxing to obey, while others battle it out only to find that their is no winning. God is ultimately and always in control.

What is so sad is that we go out of our way to make our will work when time after time we fail. We just can not see in the beginning how by just accepting his will would be better for us. Accepting God's plans for us is not easy, but it is possible. Actually it is peaceful. I have been doing this very thing. Learning to accept and accepting day by day that my life is not just for serving me. Rather I was created for an even higher purpose. The purpose of serving God and His will.

Jesus said it best in Mark 8 : 34-37
And when He had called the people to Him, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
"Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Basically these verses teach us we need to put our will in submission to God's will. We we receive from that is far greater than trying to win and sadly realizing we have failed and lost. I say this mostly in part b/c I and so many others I know are all about trying to achieve our own will or happiness or desires that please ourselves. What we have been called to it not that but to please God. I for one want to stop the battle within myself to fight for what I desire and allow my desires to be God's desires for me.

Psalm 37 : 3-5

Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Recently I read Psalm 10 and a few verses really touched me. I hope you find them helpful and encouraging too.

Psalms 9:1-2
I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

This verse especially has shown me that knowing his name allows us to be comforted in trusting Jesus b/c he does not fail. Something my children have learned and remind me of, "God does not make mistakes". Everything God does is for His will and purpose. All perfect.

Psalms 9:10
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Have a wonderful day submitting and obeying God's will!