Spirit Is Willing

Spirit is Willing (by David Peterson)

Jesus is praying in Gethsemane on the final night of His freedom when Matthew records in 26:40-42: “And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ He went away again a second time and prayed, saying,’My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.’”

Jesus confirms the power of the Spirit and also the allure of sin as He struggled with His own temptations to doubt. The venerable Pastor John Piper offers us his take on the power of the Spirit when he wrote; “The work of the Spirit is not to tell us what the Bible means. That we must determine by a disciplined study of the text. The Spirit inspired these writings and He does not short-circuit them by whispering in our ear what they mean. When we pray for His help we do not pray that He will spare us the hard work of rigorous reading and reflection. What we pray is that He would make us humble enough to welcome the truth.”

Piper informs us here how the Spirit helps us understand and readies us for the trials and tribulations in life.

Babbie Mason is an award-winning Gospel singer and song writer who penned “The Spirit is Willing” in 2004. Mason shares in stanza 2: “Too much like the sea, my spirit will not rest, a thousand storms are raging deep with my breast. Sweet peace like a river is all the cure I need, for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, My spirit is willing but my flesh is weak.”

The Spirit is willing and powerful and He brings us peace.

Let us pray: Redeemer Jesus, your words are full of the Spirit and life and peace. Teach us to draw strength from the Spirit and turn our hearts to you!