Prayer: The place of exchange

Our will for His will.

Are we willing to lay our will down in order to pick up His will? ...We can’t have both.

“And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed, Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done. And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in spirit.” (Luke 22:41–43, AMP)

Dealing with the flesh requires a strengthening in the spirit.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was going through the process of giving His all to the Father, spirit, soul and body. It is only in this place that we are ready to pick up the will of the Father.

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” (John 5:30, NKJV)

Jesus is saying here in John 5, “I can’t do anything in my own strength, but I am not in my own strength because I consistently seek the will of the Father.”

I like what it says in the Amplified Bible. “I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord—but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me.” (John 5:30, AMP)

We move from the place of “I WANT, I WANT, I WANT” to “Lord, what to do you want for me?”

You can’t be focused on what the Lord wants and what you want too.

This type of prayer is necessary to have a “spirit-led” fast.

What is His will in this time of fasting? We have to fast what He wants us to fast.

Take time today and ask Him what He wants you to fast during the next 21 days.

Remember that one of the main goals and purpose for this time of fasting is to develop a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Expect Him to lead you and speak to you.