Matthew 26:39 (NKJV) “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.’”
Jesus sets an example of how we should pray to be in God’s will and to have His leading in every major decision we make in life. When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He did not ask God for an easy way out from becoming the sin sacrifice for the world. Of all the recorded prayers of Jesus, this is the only one where He prayed, “If it is Your will”. Jesus was praying about the will of God for His life when He said, “Nevertheless, not My will, but as You will”. Different passages of scripture mention that Jesus said He came to do the will of the Father. If Jesus did the will of the Father, then it is imperative that we model after His life as well by living in full submission to the plan and purposes of the heavenly Father.
A prayer of consecration is a prayer seeking the will of God for our lives. We pray, “If it is Your will,” because we do not know the will of God. We are not fixated upon our own agenda, but we lay it down before God and ask Him to direct our steps. We do not make the decision first, then ask Him to bless it. This can be a struggle for many Christians because it deals with the Lordship of Christ in our lives. It has to do with laying down what we perceive to be our own right to decide what we want to do and how we want to live our lives. It involves surrendering and submitting to God. A consecrated life involves a purposeful and intentional decision to make our lives count for the Lord.
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk them.”
We need to be honest with ourselves, is what’s on our mind a “good idea” or “God’s idea”? If He is the Lord of our lives, it is good to obtain God’s endorsement before we rush out to execute our ideas or plans. Not every idea is God’s idea, therefore, it’s important to consecrate our plan, idea and dream to Him. Wait for a confirmation through the Word – Is there a “Book, Chapter and Verse” (BCV) reference? Seek a witness of the Holy Spirit and godly counsel from others. If we are confident it is God’s idea, then God will fund it, provide resources for it and bless it. Once we have ensured that God is in this endeavor, we will be able to stand firm and immovable in the face of adversity. We won’t be easily discouraged, blame God or others or become bitter when we experience difficulties while walking out His calling.
Once God has given us the idea, we own it and will have a clearer picture of the blueprint. We are impregnated with it. We will speak about it in faith. We will begin to plan, strategize and implement it when the timing is right. We will act and decide based on holiness, justice and righteousness especially in the area of business and corporate dealings. God has a unique plan for every one of us. He is the Master Craftsman. Stay resilient and be patient despite the pressure that can come upon us while we walk out God’s calling, keeping a clear conscience so that the devil can have no hold over us. And we will witness the hand of God upon our lives.
Sermon Series: Resilience (Part 3)
分别为圣（以神为中心）的祷告
马太福音26:39 他就稍往前走，俯伏在地，祷告说：我父阿，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我。然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。
耶稣为我们树立了一个榜样，向我们表明我们应该如何以祷告进入上帝的心意，好教我们作出的生命中的每一个重大决定都蒙祂的带领。当耶稣在客西马尼园祷告时，祂并没有求天父给祂一条捷径，好使祂免于成为世人的赎罪祭。在所有记载下来的耶稣的祷告中，这是唯一一处祂说”如果这是你的旨意”的祷文。当祂说:”然而不是按我的旨意，而是按你的旨意”时，祂是在为神对祂生命的旨意而祷告。圣经中的许多章节都有提及耶稣称祂来是为了遵行天父的旨意。如果耶稣遵行了天父的旨意，那么我们更应该效法祂的生命，完全顺服天父的计划和目的。
分别为圣（以神为中心）的祷告是寻求神对我们生命的旨意的祷告。我们祈祷说”如果这是你的旨意”，因为我们不知道上帝的旨意。我们不执着于自己的议事日程，而是把一切都摆在上帝面前，求祂指引我们的脚步。我们不做是先作决定，然后才请祂来祝福它。对许多基督徒来说，这可能是一种挣扎，因为这关乎基督在我们生命中的主权。我们必须放下自以为是属己的权利，就是决定自己想做的事，想怎样过日子。这包括对上帝的降服与顺从。献身的生命包括作出有目的的刻意的决定，活着是为主而活。
以弗所书2:10我们原是他的工作，在基督耶稣里造成的，为要叫我们行善，就是神所预备叫我们行的。
我们需对自己诚实，我们头脑中的那个念头究竟是个“好主意”，还是“上帝的旨意”？若祂是我们生命的主宰，我们最好在匆忙将自己的主意或计划付诸行动之前先取得上帝的背书。并不是每一个想法都是上帝的旨意，因此将我们的计划、想法和梦想奉献给神是很重要的。藉着查考圣经等待一个确据，看看是否可以参考其中的某一本书、章节及经句，寻求圣灵的见证以及他人敬虔的忠告。如果我们确信这是上帝的旨意，上帝就会资助它，提供资源，并祝福它！一旦我们确定了上帝在其中与我们同工，我们将能够坚定地站立，在逆境中巍然不动。当我们践行神的呼召而遭遇艰困时，我们将不会轻易灰心丧胆，也不会怨天尤人，更不会心怀苦毒。
一旦上帝给了我们这个想法，它就成为属于我们的意念，我们将看见一个更为清晰的蓝图。它开始在我们里面孕育生发。我们凭着信心谈论它。我们将开始规划、制定战略并在时机成熟时予以执行。我们将依照圣洁、正义及公义的法则行事及决策，尤其是在关乎商务及公司的交易方面。神对我们每个人都有着独一无二的计划。上帝是工艺大师。要保持坚韧与耐心，尽管当我们行出上帝的呼召时会受到压力，我们依旧要保持清晰的认知，如此一来魔鬼就对我们无计可施了。而我们则将在自己的生命中见证上帝之手的作为。
讲章系列：韧性（反弹/恢复能力)（第三部分)