WHEN I THINK of Easter, this thought comes to mind: The commitment and consecration of Jesus to fulfill His mission on this earth. I am always moved when I read Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Matthew 26:36–45( NKJV), “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 sleeping, 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.’ Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.’ And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.”
No matter how many times I read this passage, I am moved with compassion and tears, realizing that even though Jesus was the Son of God, it still took deep commitment and consecration to obey His Father’s will.
Many people question why their prayers are not answered. I think the reason is that we have not first prayed the prayer of consecration. Let’s define consecrate: To devote or dedicate to some purpose. To devote irrevocably to the worship of God.
The prayer of consecration, the prayer of committing to live a holy life, and committing to do God’s will are often the most difficult things for people. It is not fun to die to our own will, ways, and desires.
There has never been a prayer that matches Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Although the most committed of the disciples were nearby—Jesus had to carry His burden alone to the Father.
This prayer, with all its intensity, didn’t spontaneously spring up in Jesus’ heart at this one crucial time in His life. Although the Garden of Gethsemane experience was the ultimate test of His willingness to die to His will, Jesus lived His entire life on this earth with an attitude of surrender to God.
John 6:38 (NLT) says, “For I have come down from Heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.” John 4:34 (NLT) further confirms this as Jesus said: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing His work.”
Isaiah 1:19–20 declares: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”
Willingness and obedience to fulfill God’s will is important to Him. If the children of Israel had faithfully followed God’s plan rather than their plans and desires, they would not have had to experience some of the consequences they faced.
A prime example of being consecrated and committed is the story of Abraham. God told Abraham to go from the land he was inhabiting. However, God didn’t tell Abraham where he was going. He simply said “Go and I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). God went on to say, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing” (v. 2). Abraham obeyed and was blessed.
When we accept Christ as Savior, our desire is to follow His will for our lives. However, if we are not careful, the longer we are saved, the stronger our desires become and the weaker the desire to do the will of the Father becomes.
I encourage you to review your consecration and commitment to the Father. And recommit as David did in Psalm 40:8 (NKJV): “I delight to do your will, O my God, and your law is within my heart.”
Author
Lynette Hagin
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