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Not My Will But Thine Be Done

"Not my will, but thine be done".
Though his mortal flesh was weak,
Yet these words God's only Son
In his darkest hour did speak.
True obedience demands
That we oft repeat this prayer -
Doing all the Lord commands,
Giving him our every care.

Like the prodigal, my choice
Is to fly to foreign lands,
Heeding not the Father's voice:
"Child, thy life is in my hands".
Having spent what was not earned,
Living recklessly and rude -
To the father's love returned
And his will again pursued.

Make my will and thine the same,
Cause this selfish heart to yield.
It is for such hearts Christ came,
By his stripes such hearts are healed.
Though he be my only friend,
Still my soul upon him leans -
Though I cannot see the end,
I must trust him with the means.

We like sheep have gone astray
From the path the Lord has willed.
Each has turned to his own way
And for such, Christ's blood was spilled.
Asking, "Father fashion me
In the image of thy Son” -
May my sole petition be,
"Not my will but thine be done".


A Maundy Thursday meditation on Christ in the garden of Gethsemane - Matthew 26:39

Copyright © John Watt | Year Posted 2020

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Heather Secrest Date: 5/1/2020 3:05:00 PM I love your expression of the beauty of the atonement that Christ suffered for us! We all are striving to be our best and to come closer unto God by following His will and not ours. We all turn away sometimes, but through Christ we can become clean again! Thank you for this poem! ~Heather Login to Reply John Watt Date: 5/1/2020 4:07:00 PM Heather, it's amazing you'd read and comment on this, as just this morning I read your prayer poem: "May I do as / Thou wouldst have / May I fulfill / Thy Heavenly Plan". I thought of Christ's words in the garden, "Not My Will, but Thine be done" - the ultimate prayer of self-emptying and godly submission. So blessed by your comment; I hope your contest is flooded with entries! Blessings ~ John

Wendy Watson Date: 4/10/2020 7:00:00 AM This is such a wonderful reflection on our state before God and the power of forgiveness and renewal, John. You have been blessed with such a gift and both content and rhythmic flow were much appreciated. Thank you. Login to Reply John Watt Date: 4/12/2020 12:20:00 AM Wendy, I am deeply grateful for you kind and insightful comments. You and I both are keen on rhythmic flow! A blessed Easter Sunday to you!

Gordon Mcconnell Date: 4/9/2020 4:20:00 PM Such a fine piece John, focusing on the Lord in Gethsemane. A great write on boxing to God's ultimate will. Blessings always,Gordon Login to Reply John Watt Date: 4/12/2020 12:18:00 AM Gordon, thank you for the blessing of your kind comment. Blessings to you as well, my friend

Andrea Dietrich Date: 4/9/2020 3:59:00 PM Great post to making right before Good Friday and Easter Sunday, John. Login to Reply John Watt Date: 4/12/2020 12:18:00 AM Thank you Andrea! You have detected a theme this week... haha!

Sam Kauffman Date: 4/9/2020 2:34:00 PM "Having spent what was not earned" - such an eye catching phrase - so like the prodigal that the rest of your poem of faith addresses John - closing with a beautiful prayer "Father, fashion me in the image of thy Son." Just a lovely reflection for Maundy Thursday - this day when we too wash the feet of those around us in up-lifting words like these found in your poetry. Many blessing to you and your family! Login to Reply John Watt Date: 4/9/2020 2:46:00 PM Thank you for the insightful comments, Sam. Always appreciated and encouraged by them. A blessed Maundy Thursday to you in quiet reflection and faithful service.

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 4/9/2020 2:28:00 PM - By this we have come to know love, John - A lovely poem :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply John Watt Date: 4/9/2020 2:41:00 PM Amen, Anne-Lise. Even in times of crisis, God's love is on display around us. Thanks for the visit and comment. Be well ~ John

Rercy Zola-Zaba Date: 4/9/2020 12:53:00 PM "We like sheep have gone astray From the path the Lord has willed. Each has turned to his own way And for such, Christ's blood was spilled."It makes me thinking what if this crisis of the pandemic is God's way of uniting his astray sheep? For we have been divided for too long, war-ridden and with this pandemic nations get to come together for once and in this misfortune we re-learn what is like to be humane, what it's like to be united, for we become one to fight the crisis.Excellent write! Login to Reply John Watt Date: 4/9/2020 12:57:00 PM I like the way you think, Rercy. God desires unity, not war. Love, not hatred. Peace, not conflict. Sharing, not hoarding. Perhaps our priorities become straightened out in times of struggle and our cooperation becomes more important than our borders. Thank you for your musings and kind words.

CayCay Jennings Date: 4/9/2020 12:27:00 PM Some very poetic verses. Yes, we must all live from our spiritual senses rather than our human ones for the later is only temporary and in place just that purpose. I'm sure your poem will soothe and comfort many - which is using your creative gifts to witness Our Way-shower. Poetry hugs ... CayCay Login to Reply John Watt Date: 4/9/2020 12:30:00 PM Poetry hugs back to you, CayCay. These times have a way of reorganizing our priorities, don't they? The spiritual side comes out more when we have time to be quiet and thoughtful. I appreciate the visit and the kind words.