Daily devotional · March 23
Not My Will
“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.” And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.””
On the night before his death, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives as he often did, and asked his friends to pray. Then he withdrew a short distance and prayed in anguish. He asked if it were possible for the cup to be taken away, and then added the words that define his whole life: not my will, but yours be done. Luke records that an angel strengthened him and that his sweat fell like drops of blood, while the disciples slept from sorrow. Jesus did not pretend to feel calm. He brought his dread honestly to the Father and still submitted. If you are facing something you dread, you do not need to hide it from God. You can ask for relief and still say, Your will be done. Today, be honest with God about a fear, and ask for the courage to trust him in it.
Prayer
Father, I bring You my fears. Not my will, but Yours. Strengthen me to trust. Amen.