His Way ∙∙

His Way ∙∙

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. – Proverbs 3:5

Luke 22:39-45

Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

He returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.

The Story Behind “My Way”

In 1968, Paul Anka wrote the lyrics for the iconic song “My Way,” which became a defining anthem for individuality and self-determination. The song was based on a French composition titled “Comme d’habitude,” recorded by Claude François in 1967. Anka first heard the song in France, and inspired by its melody, he wrote new English lyrics upon returning to New York.

Paul Anka gifted the song to Frank Sinatra, who recorded it on December 30, 1968. It quickly became Sinatra’s signature song, embodying his larger-than-life persona. Reflecting on the song in his later years, Sinatra described it as “a Paul Anka pop hit which became a kind of national anthem.”

In the UK, “My Way” achieved remarkable success, entering the charts six times between 1970 and 1971, making it the song with the longest stay on the chart during that period. Its cultural impact extended beyond music, becoming a deeply personal anthem for many. In 2005, a survey conducted by Co-Operative Funeral Care revealed that “My Way” was the most requested song at funerals in the UK. Spokesman Phil Edwards explained its lasting charm: “It has that timeless appeal – the words sum up what so many people feel about their lives and how they would like their loved ones to remember them.”

His Way or “My Way?”

The Scriptures highlight the wisdom and importance of following the Lord and walking in His ways. They emphasize obedience, trust, and loyalty to the Father as the foundation for a relationship with Him. We are encouraged to walk in His way. For example, Deuteronomy 5:33 asserts, “Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”

As children of the King, we are called to surrender our will to His, trusting in His eternal plan. The song “My Way” is diametrically opposed. Yet its message of independence and self-reliance resonates deeply with human nature. Humanity’s natural tendency is to seek independence and freedom. Deep down, we are driven to declare, “I did it my way.”

Each of us faces a fundamental choice throughout our lives: will we choose His way or “my way”? This decision is not a one-time event; it must be reaffirmed repeatedly as we navigate life’s challenges.

The Garden of Gethsemane: A Model of Submission

In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus Christ faced His most significant test of submission. Anticipating the horror of His crucifixion, the physical agony, and the temporary separation from the Father, He prayed: Luke 22:42: “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

This moment shows the true humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Humanly speaking, He would have preferred to avoid the shame, pain, and suffering of the cross. His prayer was not a sign of doubt or a desire to back out but a reflection of His real human feelings.

The word “cup” is used symbolically to represent the suffering and sacrifice that awaited Him. While He asked the Father to take the “cup” from Him if it were possible, He ultimately submitted to the Father’s will. His prayer was not a request for His own desires to be fulfilled but a surrender to the Father’s eternal plan.

The Ultimate Act of Trust

The Lord Jesus Christ’s prayer in Gethsemane demonstrates complete trust and submission to the Father. Despite His anguish, He surrendered all His concerns to the Father, choosing obedience over personal preference. His willingness to say, “not my will but Yours be done,” serves as the ultimate example of faith and trust in God’s plan.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Lord Jesus Christ showed us how to trust the Father no matter the cost. His example calls us to repeatedly choose His way over our way, surrendering our fears, desires, and plans to His perfect will.

Father, my flesh is weak, oh so very weak, but my spirit is willing. I want to repeatedly decide and say, “Not my will but Yours be done. Please make it so.”

INSIGHT

The Struggle Between Spirit and Flesh

The apostle Matthew provides a profound insight into the tension that exists within every child of the King. Why is it so difficult for us to surrender our way to His way?

Matthew 26:41: “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

This verse captures the essence of the human condition. Although our spirits are willing and eager to follow God’s will, our flesh, reflecting our human nature, often stumbles. This internal struggle is a defining characteristic of our fallen state, representing an ongoing battle between our desire to obey and our tendency toward self-reliance and independence.

The Desire for “My Way”

Each child of the King wrestles with the innate desire to do things “our own way.” It is embedded in our flawed DNA, a remnant of humanity’s rebellion against the Father. Even the Lord Jesus Christ, in His humanity, experienced this tension. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He offered a heartfelt prayer to His eternal Father in heaven. His request was sincere, yet it was not granted.

Imagine the Father’s perspective in that moment. Perhaps His thoughts were something like this: “Oh, my dear, greatly beloved Son, if only it could be so. But this is the eternal purpose that We decided upon. I know You will see it through to the end. I will always have Your back. Your pain is My pain. But I am confident that we will win. You will indeed save Your people from their sins and make redemption available for all who will take it.”

This moment reveals the depth of the Father’s love and the significance of the eternal plan. It also reminds us that when we face suffering, we can trust that the Father is with us, even if His answer to our prayers isn’t what we hoped for.

Surrendering to His Will

When we face life’s setbacks and struggles, it is essential to adopt the attitude of surrender exemplified by the Lord Jesus Christ: “Your will be done, not mine.” From the Father’s perspective, these challenges are not meaningless; they are preparation for what’s ahead.

As Tertullian famously said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” This statement emphasizes the truth that even in suffering, God’s purposes prevail. Our trials, though painful, often serve a greater purpose within His eternal plan.

A Song of Surrender: “Your Way”

Inspired by Paul Anka and Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” perhaps we should each write our own song of surrender, declaring our commitment to follow His way.

 “Your Way”

And now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I’ll say it clear, I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.
I’ve lived a life that’s full.
I traveled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this, I did it Your way.’

Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do, and saw it through without exemption.
You planned each charted course,
Each careful step along the byway.
And more, much more than this, I did it Your way.

Yes, there were times, I’m sure You knew, when I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it Your way.

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried; I’ve had my fill, my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that, and may I say, not in a shy way.
Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it Your way!

For what is a man, what has he got? If not You, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels, and the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows and did it Your way.

Yes, it was Your way.

The Eternal Perspective

The journey of faith is one of surrender, a daily decision to choose His way over our own. While our flesh may resist, the Spirit within us empowers us to trust in the Father’s plan. Life’s challenges and unanswered prayers are not signs of abandonment but opportunities to grow in faith and dependence on Him.

In the end, the greatest fulfillment comes not from declaring, “I did it my way,” but from living a life that proclaims, “I did it Your way.”

The decision to follow His way instead of our own is not always easy, but it is the path to true freedom and fulfillment. The Lord Jesus Christ’s submission in Gethsemane reminds us that trusting the Father’s will, even in the face of suffering, leads to eternal purpose and peace. His way is always higher, always better, and always rooted in love.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯3-12-2

© Dr. H 2025