"Please, Father"

I am going through "Jesus: 90 days with The One and Only" by Beth Moore with my accountability group. I have done "Jesus The One and Only" before, but it has been a while, so I am enjoying this walk back through the life of Jesus. This morning's lesson was especially powerful to me, and I wanted to share it with you.

If you would, open your Bible and read Mark 14:32-42

"He said, "Abba, Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will" Mark 14:36

Beth asks, "Is there something you would like to ask your Father to take off of your plate right now?" Oh boy, is there ever. I was practically jumping up and down saying "Yes, yes there is. Father, please take away the obstacles that are keeping us from having a baby. Please take the hurt, pain and disappointment off of our plate." - What about you?

Then she says, "If He does, how deeply and publicly will you proclaim your praise for His mercy?" I will shout it from the rooftops!!! I will proclaim His miraculous power in my life to all who will hear!! I will praise Him for His mercy for the rest of my days!! I will not fail to praise the name of Jesus as long as I have breath!!! - What about you?

"If He doesn't, how faithfully will you follow Him through the valley with it?" Whoa now, this is getting serious. God has a choice - He CAN remove the obstacles of our infertility and create a life within me - but, it doesn't mean that He WILL. So, then I have a choice - will I choose to follow Him through the valley and praise Him no matter what? My answer is yes, because I honestly don't know how I would make it through any other way. I wouldn't, I couldn't...for apart from Him I can do nothing. - What about you?

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Let's go back to the garden and picture Jesus, God's beloved, overwhelmed with grief, even to the point of death. (vs. 32) He pleaded with His Father, the Sovereign of the Universe, the One whom He know was able, to take this cup from Him. And don't we know that God could have? He absolutely could have. Can you imagine Him sitting on His throne and seeing the anguish that His one and only beloved Son was going through? "That God could have stopped the process yet didn't is a matchless demonstration of love."

And, let's not look past the fact that Jesus was fully God and fully man. He could have walked right past the cross. He could have - but He didn't. He went in obedience to His Father and because of His great love for us. I am overwhelmed when I think about the pain, cruelty, and suffering that Christ endured for me - in my place.

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Like Paul, I come to You boldly, asking that You would take the burdens we are facing away. I believe with all that is in me that You are able. But Father, I also know that Your Word says "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." May I be more like Jesus, fully surrendered to Your will and willing to go where You lead no matter what the cost. Please give me Your strength to make it through the valley. I thank You that I will never have to walk it alone. May Your power dwell within me so that when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:8-10)

Father, thank you for sending Your Son. I don't know that I will ever understand the great love you have for me. May I never lose the wonder the cross. I am forever grateful for Jesus and the sacrifice He willingly made upon it. O praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!