Not My Will, But Yours!

May 17, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: At His Feet Amid Distractions

Martha bustled through the house, clattering dishes while Mary sat motionless before Jesus. The smell of roasting lamb filled the air as Martha’s voice sharpened: “Tell her to help me!” Jesus didn’t scold her service but named her distraction—the good work that pulled her from the best thing. Mary’s choice to listen first couldn’t be stolen by life’s urgency. [10:59]

Distraction isn’t about bad priorities but displaced attention. Martha’s problem wasn’t cooking dinner—it was missing the Bread of Life in her own home. Jesus redirects frantic hearts to what endures: His words that outlast our to-do lists.

How often do you invite Jesus into your chaos only to turn away? What “meal prep” steals your focus from the One sitting in your living room? Identify one distraction today that drowns His voice. Will you choose to sit first—even with dirty dishes in the sink?

“Mary…sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.”
(Luke 10:39-40, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal what good task distracts you from His presence.
Challenge: Silence your phone for 10 uninterrupted minutes while reading John 6:35 aloud.

Day 2: When 20,000 Voices Compete

Jesus stood in Martha’s house, His words competing with clanging pots. Later, He’d whisper to Elijah in a cave while storms raged. God rarely shouts over life’s noise—He waits for our focused pursuit. Like straining to hear a friend in a roaring stadium, we must eliminate competing voices to catch His tone. [16:47]

The Father’s voice isn’t faint—it’s precise. He speaks through Scripture, nudges in prayer, and wisdom from mature believers. But YouTube sermons, well-meaning opinions, and TikTok faith coaches create static. His sheep know His voice when they tune out the arena.

What human voices dominate your decisions? Write down three sources you’ve consulted this week more than Scripture. Are you seeking clarity or just louder confirmation of your preferences?

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
(Hebrews 11:6, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one competing voice you’ve elevated above God’s Word.
Challenge: Spend 5 minutes in silence before opening any app or speaking today.

Day 3: Redeeming the Rice and Fish

Jesus multiplied a boy’s lunch after blessing it. He didn’t magic bread from heaven but redeemed what was already present. Ephesians urges us to “redeem the time”—not by doing more, but by infusing eternal purpose into ordinary moments. Burned rice or traffic jams become holy when offered. [20:55]

Time management isn’t about schedules but stewardship. The Greek word for “redeem” means to buy back from waste. Jesus turned water to wine at a failing wedding and used mud to heal blindness. He specializes in reclaiming what we deem useless for His glory.

What mundane task feels spiritually empty—laundry, commuting, spreadsheet work? How might offering it as worship change your perspective? Where can you plant eternity in today’s routine?

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
(Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for three “ordinary” parts of your day He wants to sanctify.
Challenge: Set a timer for 15 minutes to pray over a task you’ve been avoiding.

Day 4: Set Minds and Shifting Gears

Colossian believers were told to “set” their minds like fixing a compass needle. A set mind doesn’t spin with every wind but locks onto true north. Like shifting a manual transmission into gear, intentional focus moves us from neutral coasting to purposeful momentum. [30:21]

Neutral hearts stall on life’s hills. Jesus demonstrated set focus in Gethsemane: “Not my will.” He didn’t beg for options but aligned with the Father’s singular plan. Our waffling—between God’s way and our cravings—steals spiritual traction.

What decision have you kept in neutral to avoid surrender? Are you revving the engine of self-will but refusing to engage God’s gear? What hill is God asking you to climb today?

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
(Colossians 3:2, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one area where you’ve resisted “shifting gears” with God.
Challenge: Write Colossians 3:2 on a sticky note and place it on your steering wheel.

Day 5: Neutral in the Car Wash

A car wash requires neutral gear—surrendering control to the guiding track. Jesus modeled this in Gethsemane: “Not my will.” The Father’s perfect will often feels like a dark tunnel before emerging cleansed and directed. Stubborn steering fights the process. [47:18]

Neutral isn’t passive—it’s active trust. Like young David refusing Saul’s armor, we strip off self-made plans to wear God’s unlikely equipment. The disciples left nets not knowing the catch ahead. Surrender precedes clarity.

What “gear” are you gripping—a relationship, career plan, or old grudge—that resists God’s wash cycle? What would it look like to release the wheel today?

“He went a little farther, fell on His face, and prayed, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’”
(Matthew 26:39, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal where you’re white-knuckling control.
Challenge: Physically open your hands while praying about one decision today.

Sermon Summary

We recognize a central struggle: how to live inside God’s will. We identify two forms of that will. God’s perfect will reflects his design, desire, and ultimate plan for our lives; his permissive will reflects what he allows because he gave us free choice. We commit to pursue the perfect will while trusting God’s mercy to redeem wrong turns. We accept that proving God’s will requires renewing our minds so we can distinguish what is good, acceptable, and perfect.

We place the gospel at the canopy of every choice. Salvation and sanctification stand as the highest purposes: God desires that we be saved, set apart, and grown in holiness. Every decision should be measured by whether it draws us nearer to or farther from that end. Committing our works to the Lord invites God to order our steps; practical obedience unlocks divine guidance.

We name recurring obstacles and how to address them. Distraction diverts attention from Christ’s presence, as the contrast between Mary and Martha shows; guarding attention matters more than doing more. Competing voices drown spiritual hearing; seeking God requires removing noise so the still small voice can be discerned. An unprepared heart refuses to receive seed; we cultivate readiness by eliminating interruptions and centering our affections on heavenly things. Finally, we must come to God with our hearts in neutral, surrendering covetous desire and stubborn insistence so God can pull us into his best rather than being forced into our plans.

We reclaim rhythms that redeem time. Walking circumspectly and making the most of opportunities protects us from fragmented devotion. Setting our minds on things above reorients daily routines so prayer, study, and service become focused practices rather than distracted chores. We remember that God does not coerce; he draws. When we yield, even uncomfortable obedience produces glory and fruit that will not be taken away. We anchor our hope in God’s grace, which equips us to succeed in pursuing his perfect will.

Key Takeaways

1. Differentiate God's perfect and permissive will We distinguish between what God ordains and what he allows because of human freedom. Holding both realities prevents spiritual confusion: we neither blame God for every hardship nor assume permission equals approval. This clarity grounds our pursuit of his best while trusting his redemption when we stray. [00:19]
2. Redeem time; eliminate distractions Attention forms our spiritual life more than activity. When we guard focused presence with Christ, practices like prayer and Scripture yield deep, lasting insight rather than scattered busyness. Intentional margins and rhythms expose the enemy’s tactics and preserve space to hear God. [10:16]
3. Pray and prepare your heart A receptive heart receives seed and bears fruit; a hardened or thorny heart rejects it. Preparing involves removing noise, establishing routines, and cultivating hunger for truth so that divine words land on fertile ground and transform action. Regular heart-work produces durable obedience. [27:06]
4. Pray in neutral; surrender preference Neutrality means yielding personal agendas so God can lead, rather than asking God to bless our plans. Covetousness and stubbornness lock us into inferior courses; a neutral posture allows God to pull us into surprising, better paths. Surrender sharpens faith and results in outcomes we will ultimately cherish. [32:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Perfect and Permissive Will
[02:20] - Good, Acceptable, Perfect Progression
[03:13] - Surrender Enables Perfect Will
[05:45] - Salvation and Sanctification First
[10:16] - Mary and Martha: Distraction
[14:13] - Competing Voices and Seeking God
[20:07] - Redeem the Time; Walk Wisely
[27:06] - Preparing the Heart to Receive
[32:05] - Neutral Heart; Surrender and Pull

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Observation Questions

Romans 12:2 mentions three aspects of God’s will. What are they, and how does the sermon describe the progression from "good" to "perfect"?
In Luke 10:38-42, what contrast does Jesus highlight between Mary and Martha’s actions, and how does this relate to distractions? [10:16]
According to the sermon, what does it mean to have a heart in "neutral," and how does this posture affect our ability to discern God’s will? [32:05]
Ephesians 5:15-17 urges believers to "redeem the time." What practical examples were given in the sermon for doing this? [20:07]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Romans 12:2 emphasize renewing the mind as essential for discerning God’s will? How might worldly conformity hinder this process?
The sermon contrasts God’s "perfect will" and "permissive will." How might understanding this distinction prevent confusion or frustration in decision-making?
Martha’s distraction is described as a failure to prioritize Christ’s presence. Why do you think Jesus called Mary’s choice "the good part" that "will not be taken away"? [10:16]
The phrase "redeeming the time" implies intentional stewardship. How do competing voices or fragmented routines sabotage this effort? [20:07]

Application Questions

Distractions can divert our attention from Christ’s presence. What distractions tend to pull your focus away during prayer, Bible study, or worship? What is one practical step to minimize them this week? [10:16]
The sermon warns against "covetousness" and "stubbornness" as barriers to surrender. Is there a specific desire or plan you’ve been holding onto that might need to be released to God? How could you pray about it in a "neutral" posture? [32:05]
"Redeeming the time" includes setting boundaries to prioritize seeking God. What daily or weekly routine could you adjust to create more focused space for prayer or Scripture? [20:07]
The parable of the soils (Matthew 13:18-23) warns about unprepared hearts. How do you actively "cultivate" your heart to receive God’s Word—through habits, repentance, or intentional focus? [27:06]
Reflect on a past decision where you sensed God’s guidance. How did surrendering your preferences or eliminating distractions play a role in that process?
The sermon says, "God draws; he doesn’t push." Are there areas where you’ve been waiting for God to "push" you instead of yielding to His gentle pull? How might you respond differently? [41:21]
Identify one area of your life (relationships, work, habits) where you’ve settled for "good" instead of pursuing God’s "perfect." What step could you take to align more closely with His design?

Sermon Clips

37s

#PutGodFirst

“``And whatever you put for God before God is idolatry. We start saying idolatry, we start saying, well, Buddha, Hala, Shinto shrines, crystals, all this kind of stuff. Yeah. That's that's idolatry. Anything you put before God. Other people say, well, my team, my job, my friends, my golf clubs, my car, my truck, my boat, my house, my yard, whatever. All of those, anything you put before god is idolatry. But let me tell you something else that's idolatry. Idolatry is what you covet.”

34s

#SurrenderToGod

“Perfect will always require surrender. Yes. If you're have the perfect will of god, it's you're gonna have it not because you get it right every time but because you know how to surrender. Surrender to things of god. One of the things that's important, because sometimes the perfect will of God is uncomfortable in the moment, but it's glorious in the outcome. In other words, you might not like it to start off with, but I promise you, you're gonna love it in the end. Amen. That's how God operates.”

53s

#YieldLikeJesus

“And that's how we pray. That's how we come to church. That's how we worship. They're saying we very seldom walk through these doors with our hearts in neutral. Oh, God, show me the way. Jesus in the Garden Of Gethsemane fell down on his face. He said, father, not my will be done, but your will be done. What is he showing us? A heart in a neutral position. My idolatry, my covetousness, I coveted God. I want this job. I want this girl. I want this boy. I want this social click. I want these things, God. I said, just make it happen, God. Make it happen. Okay? Make it happen. Make it happen. And god says, no.”

40s

#DrawCloserToGod

“God not only wants us to make it to heaven, but along the way, he wants us to be sanctified which means separate. He wants us to be holy and not like the world. That's God's will for our life and we're trying to make decisions on who to marry, on who to date or where to go to work at or or or what to do and what to say and whether or it's the will of God and He's not talking to us and if we pull back and see the entire scope of the canopy of the will of God in our life, if it lines up to his ultimate will, then that will help you make a decision. God, will this draw me further away from you or will it draw me closer to you?”

37s

#RedeemTheTime

“In fifteen minutes in the presence of god, I'll break the devil's back every single time if that's redeeming the time that god has given you. We're gonna give him an excuse that I don't have time. Amen? That's the perfect will of God. That's what it says. Number three, number one with distractions. Number two was competing voices. High school students, as you leave and go to college, watch out for distractions and competing voices. Those that's graduated from college and getting down to John Forrest, watch out for distractions and competing voices.”

42s

#BeFullyPresent

“There's always a commitment to making sure that we are redeeming the time. And here's the point, If you are working, work. If you're playing, play. If you're resting, rest. If you're studying, study. If you're praying, pray. If you're seeking god, seek god. What are you saying? Make sure you're making the most of every opportunity.”

28s

#GodPermitsNotPlans

“and god permits things but he never plans. So, I didn't plan that but I'll permit it because god gave us free choice. Just because god allows it does not mean god approved it but god will allow things that he don't prove because his ways are not our ways. There are relationships that God has allowed. There are decisions that God has allowed. There's detours that God has allowed, but they were never his highest intention.”

35s

#SalvationFirst

“That's the will of God for your life. We get all we get all bent out of shape and we're not having a steak or chicken or whether or not we're gonna date this person or or live here or do that and all those things are important, but the number one thing that is important is that we are saved, we're on our way to heaven and we know the truth and his word is truth. And everything under the canopy of the will of God is based on his ultimate will and his ultimate will is that we all make it to heaven and we make it to heaven because we know his word and his word is truth.”

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Not My Will, But Yours!

Devotional

Day 1: At His Feet Amid Distractions

Day 2: When 20,000 Voices Compete

Day 3: Redeeming the Rice and Fish

Day 4: Set Minds and Shifting Gears

Day 5: Neutral in the Car Wash

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Not My Will, But Yours!

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