One conversation can stir up all kinds of thoughts and reminders. For days.

Recently I was reminded that we, as godly people – who know and love the Lord – can surely do the most ungodly things. And we think we are correct, worse yet, we are of the opinion the Lord even approves.

The Bible is full of examples of God’s people falling into sin and wandering away from Him. The Bible has included stories of hearts gone hard for us to learn from.

“These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12, NLT)

No one intends to fall. They do not set out deliberately or intentionally planning to fall and stray into ungodly activities … and let’s just call it what it is – sin.

Paul’s words remind us to read and know the examples in Scripture. They are there for a purpose – to warn us of how easily it can occur in our lives. He reminds us that even those who think they are standing strong and firm, must be careful not to fall.

This tendency of our hearts to stray away from God, His Word, and His ways scares me. I must admit this. It scares me because if it can happen to others, I recognize it can also happen to me.

We – the beloved and treasured possessions of God – must be on guard for the enemy surely seeks to bring each one of us down. He works craftily to draw us slowly away from God, from His Word, and from His people.

My heart has been sobered the last few days in reflecting this and praying. I have asked the Lord, “How are we to pray in these days we are living?” He has returned me to the words and prayer of Jesus Himself:

“Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.”
(Matthew 6:9-13, NLT)

“Your will”. Those were the words which stood out in these familiar words of Jesus.

All rebellion starts with saying, “I will ….”
All obedience to God starts with “Your will ….”

If we are not going to stray and wander, it is going to require a bending of our will to His will. This is no easy task and may we not kid ourselves into thinking we are the most obedient of all.

Jesus, upon knowing His time had come, went to pray in the garden. His soul was burdened and crushed knowing His death was soon. In prayer to the Father, He cries multiple times, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

It was in prayer that Jesus became resolved to the Father’s will over His own. He yielded to the will of the Father, becoming obedient unto death (see Philippians 2:8), and this is the same attitude we are exhorted to have.

May God, by His Holy Spirit keep us each close to Himself. May our prayer simply be:

“May your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done.”