“Nevertheless not as I will…” Matthew 26:39
I have become aware lately that I need to get on some sort of regular exercise (fitness) program- so I’ve started walking in the mornings. The path that I walk takes me past my parent’s house. Behind their house in one of their carports they have a stationary bike and a walker/glider. I am welcomed to workout on them any time I’d like. And it has crossed my mind- I should stop and do so. (I would certainly reap the benefit from it.) But in order to get to this equipment I have to walk through the grass. I don’t mind walking through the grass… unless it’s dewy. I have this thing about getting my feet and shoes wet in the dew. I’m getting personal now, but this is why I don’t do yard work or worked in the garden when we use to grow them in the morning… I can’t stand all that dew on my feet! I’d rather wait and do my work outdoors even in the scorching sun as opposed to getting my feet and shoes all wet.
I see a spiritual parallel in this. We all want the blessings, the promises, the benefits and rewards, as well as the good things of God to come our way, but we aren’t willing to do what it takes in order to receive them. And even if we are willing, we usually want it on our terms. How often has God spoken something to you that would be a benefit, or even an answer to prayer, but He didn’t do it the way you thought He should -or rather, the way you wanted it. We want the blessings, but we want them the way we want them, when we want them, and how we want them… like I said, “On our terms.” We want them but not at the expense of having to get out of our comfort zones, not at the risk of causing us to have to make some sort of sacrifice, not if it goes against our plans. For example, I want God to talk to me, I need Him to talk to me, but I don’t want Him to wake me up at 3:00 in the morning to do it. I’d rather have Him do it a little later in the morning. (This is wanting it on my terms.)
I want the benefit that I could gain from exercising on that equipment, but I want to do it when the grass isn’t wet. Since I don’t want to do it then, I can’t always find another time that would be better; so I don’t do it at all- therefore, I miss the benefit that it would be to my life. If you try to deal with God on your own terms, you will never reap the benefits and blessings that He has for you. You have to do it “HIS WAY”… on His terms.
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