Jesus prayed these words at the Mount of Olives, a place he frequented. But this time would be his last before the betrayal. Take this cup from me, he prayed. Take it, not I give you this cup. Take it, just take it from me. As the old hymn goes, Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne. But God, please make a throne in my heart and reside there. Please give me a heart transplant.
Back to the Mount of Olives prayer. Accepting God’s will was no easy task. Luke 22:44 says He was “in anguish” and that ”his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Take this cup.
Take me. Here’s a snippet from the familiar Take My Life song:
Take my Heart and mold it
Take my mind, transform it
Take my will, comform it
To Yours (to Yours) oh, Lord
We need His power to do the unimaginable. There is supposed to be power in remembering forgiveness. Soon after a long list of qualities in 2 Peter 1 comes the verse:
“But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”
So there is supposed to be a connection between our forgiveness and the good qualities. When we trust in Christ to save us, His Spirit indwells us and shows His fruit in our lives. It’s HIS fruit. It’s the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit results from a transformed heart.
Perhaps we’ll at times feel we cannot display the fruit and that we are completely powerless on our own. How can I get this fruit? How can I feel or be transformed by the power of God’s forgiveness?
The Bible says “we love because he first loved us.” How can I? God please put your love in me and make me love with your love. We are told to “forgive as the Lord forgave”. How can I? God please put your forgiveness in me, make me remember your forgiveness, and let it flow out. Please make me extend mercy.
If we are told to obey, He must provide the power to do it. Not my Will, but Yours be done. That should be my attitude. I should obey, regardless of my feelings. Still, thinking about forgiveness and love coming from myself because of God’s love for me still seems hard. God, please transform me and PUT your forgiveness and love inside me. Thank you…
photo by SnoShuu
Filed under: Forgiveness
Ps. 23:2–He makes me lie down in green pastures.
Ps. 25:4–Make me to know your ways, O Lord
Ps. 119:27–Make me understand…
Matt. 14:28–”Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
I have found if there a gap between Scripture and my lack, I can ask for Him to MAKE me “think” in the way I need. The strength in His court. I have NONE on my own merit.
Thanks for the Makes!