Then going out, Jesus went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.” After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take thi cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” (LK 22:39-42)
Jesus had a strong sense of a God-given purpose in his life:
-Early in his ministry, when asked to stay in Capernaum, he says, “To the other towns also I must (go)… because for this purpose I have been sent.”
-Later, told of Herod’s death threat, he says: “I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day.”
-And now, having arrived in Jerusalem and hours away from death, Jesus says to the Father, “… not my will but yours be done.”
Perhaps God is nudging me to do something I don’t want to do. From time to time, a certain thought runs through my mind, an inkling to do something (or stop doing something). I shy away from it, slough it off and figure it’s just one of those odd thoughts, daydreams.
But maybe it didn’t come from me. Maybe it came from the Lord. That makes a difference.
Now, early into Lent, I should take a long look at this. If the Lord is nudging me toward something, I ought to do it.