Hi Mike,

Jesus prayed to the Father “yet not my will but your’s be done” and Jesus taught the Lord’s prayer in teaching the disciples how to pray “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. How does this reconcile with the “counsel after His will”? Does this mean that our temptations are allowed [ by God] to indicate to us our will and then as we pray in submission to God His will is released? Or else we need not pray because God will work out every thing “after the counsel of His will”. I tried to look for an article in your site covering this area but could not find one. Look forward to your reply…..

S____

Hi S___,
Thank you for your question.

You ask how Christ’s prayer can be reconciled with “after the council of His own will?” The answer is given in Act 4:

Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Everything about the crucifixion of Christ, including his prayer to have this cup removed if possible, was “to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” So Christ’s prayer is very easily reconciled with “after the counsel of His own will.” We all pray for the same reason Christ prayed. We all pray because we need to humble ourselves before and bow our selves before God. God does not need our prayers. We need to learn to pray to God. Prayer is not for God’s benefit; it is for our benefit. God does not “allow” anything. God “ works all things after the counsel of His own will.” It is a will which is “determined before to be done.” Whenever we ask God for anything or simply give Him thanks or praise, we do so because He has caused us to want to make that request or give that praise or thanks. We do so for one reason; because “[ His] hand and His counsel determined before to be done.” When we pray, it is God who caused us to pray.

Our temptations are not allowed by God. All of our temptations are “worked after the counsel of His own will.” just look who it was who “drove Christ to His temptation:

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

So it is of us. We must be brought to see just how weak we are. We must be brought to see just how in need of a savior we are. It is what God knows how to do. It is His Work.

I hope this has answered your questions. If not, let me know.
Mike