Mark 10:35  Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” (NIV)

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Sometimes we get things exactly backward. 

James and John probably had some logic behind their request. After all, they had been with Jesus from the beginning. They had been with Jesus on the mountain when he was transfigured before them. Jesus called them Sons of Thunder. They were a powerful pair. 

They were also wrong. 

Since Jesus was who he was, they should have said, “We want to do whatever you ask.” 

Doing God’s will my way typically ends up with the wrong outcome. 

Doing God’s will, God’s way, typically ends up with the right outcome. 

We don’t have to beat up on James and John to make a point here. The point is pretty clear. Whatever Jesus wants for us is more important and better than what we want for ourselves. 

Here is a trial prayer: “Dear Jesus, I want to do whatever you ask.”

I double dog dare you to pray this. Try praying it every day this week. Keep notes day by day. Review them next weekend. I’m pretty sure you’ll like the way this works. 

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I will pray as James and John learned to pray after being with Jesus through the cross, the resurrection, and the ascension. 

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Our Father, I want to do whatever you ask. Forgive me for being hesitant to pray like this. Forgive me for being afraid of what this might lead to. Give me courage and confidence. Give me strength and wisdom. Do something in me and do something through me that only you and all your grace and goodness can take credit for. Amen.