Mark 1:40-41 – “Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”  41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”  NKJV

I fully understand praying, “Lord, if it is your will.”  That should be our first prayer when the will of God is in doubt, but it should not be our constant prayer once we know the will of the Lord on a particular matter.  That is not ‘coming boldly before the throne.’ That is prayer with an exit strategy in case it does not come to pass.  It is not a demonstration of confidence in the Promises of God. It is a reflection of our timidity and doubt. 

Please do not think of me as mean or heartless in saying that, for I know the trauma of asking and not receiving.  I know what it is to doubt, question, and be skeptical about the result.  I know what it is to know the Promise and wonder if I could really expect it.  I have been there!  I do not say that proudly but honestly. 

I am not trying to speak to you as one who is super-spiritual or always manifests faith and sees the desired result.  I speak from an honest heart desiring to learn and convey to others the Willingness of Jesus and encourage hearts to appropriate the promises and stand on God’s Word.

The leper came to Jesus with an honest desire and question.  He knew in his heart Jesus could, and possibly because of the view of illness by many of his day and ours, he was not certain that his malady was not his own doing and personal sin.  Therefore, He acknowledged his belief that Jesus could and asked if Jesus Would.  Most of us have been there and know the mental, emotional, and spiritual battle.  Jesus’ response was most potent and demonstrated a truth the Scripture repeats repeatedly: GOD IS WILLING! 

Physical healing was the issue, but it could have been anything.  In this matter, this man knew from the Prophet Isaiah that Jesus Could.  Isaiah 53 clarifies that “by the stripes of Jesus, healing was possible.”  He could have known the history of Israel in the wilderness and many of the prophets of old that “healing was possible.” 

In the biblical historical record, there was case after case where healing flowed supernaturally.  This man could know from the reports of the miracles performed by the hand of our Lord that He Could.  Therefore, “could” was not the question.  The question was, Would Jesus, do it? 

A passage in 1 John resonated with me and provided hope and confidence.  It reads, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”  (5:14-15) I hope you saw that! Confidence is provided.  Assurance finds its foundation in the revelation given. 

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  This Confidence or Assurance comes through asking or through prayer. The asking is for Anything according to His Will.  It is not just asking according to His will, but in so asking, we have the Promise that He hears us!  That is fantastic but does not give a surge of faith and confidence that we will receive. 

Therefore, if I know He hears me, the question becomes, Will He do it?  Read the next verse.  In our knowledge that He hears all prayers prayed according to His will, we have the assurance that whatever we ask is granted.  That settles the issue – He is willing, and He will.

Remember Jesus’ words to those struggling in Luke 12:32 – “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  How many times did Jesus promise us something encapsulated in His promise that we can ask and expect to receive, seek, and expect to find, and knock, expecting the door to open? 

Always remember that God is not a sadistic overlord but a loving Father wanting to meet all our needs according to His riches in Glory.  So, I encourage you to search the Scriptures for God’s Promises and then take your need to prayer based on the Promise that applies, and if God Promised it and we come with a humble and repentant heart, we will experience The Willingness of Jesus!

God bless you as you go through this beautiful day in Jesus victoriously!