“I’m not ready to pray that.” That’s what I said a number of years ago after reading about a woman who prayed, “Lord, I’m willing for Your will.” She had hopes and dreams. She had plans, not only for herself but for her husband and children as well. But in her walk with God, she knew He was calling her to a new level of faith. Though she struggled, she laid it all on the altar. She exchanged her will for His will.
I had no choice but to admit it because God knew anyway—I couldn’t pray that. I wasn’t ready to invite God to ransack my life. I had been a believer for a few years and He’d already moved me to do things I wouldn’t have imagined—leaving my law career was one—but there was no telling how far He might go if I prayed that prayer. What else might He move me to give up? What hopes and plans? What attitudes and opinions?
I knew I needed greater faith and trust, so I prayed something else. I prayed that God would get me to the point where I could make that great exchange—my will for His will.
A combination of things happened over time. God closed a couple of doors, rearranged a couple of priorities, and showed up strong in the Scriptures. I saw His sovereignty more clearly, His power, His lovingkindness, and His wisdom. I also saw my own life more clearly—as part of an eternal plan. Ephesians 2:10 really spoke to me: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (NASB).
The more I focused on God and studied His Word, the more I understood that my life is not about me. It’s all about Him. In fact, Jesus died “that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
I don’t remember exactly when the moment came, but I remember the tears as I bowed the knee in my heart and prayed, “Lord, I’m willing for Your will.” I laid my own plans, desires, attitudes, and opinions—my entire will—on the altar and asked God to replace them with His will for me. It wasn’t instantaneous. It hasn’t been easy (my will likes to resurrect itself). And I’ll continue to be a work in progress. I just know that there’s no better place than to be yielded to God’s will.
Are you willing to make the great exchange—your will for God’s will?
