Matthew 26:39, 42

In the journey of the Christian life we will regularly face the tension of “my will” verses “Thy will”! Jesus was clear that the spiritual journey of His followers would not be easy. It will be filled with trials, tests and persecutions. And in the midst of all this He calls us to be on mission with Him in the building of His kingdom. There are people to love that are hard to love. There are souls to be saved. There is an enemy on the attack against our hearts. And so prayer, real prayer, becomes essential. Jesus models for us the prayer of honesty in which we lay before the Father our desires and our fears. But then Jesus shows where all prayers must finish, the prayer of ultimate surrender. “Your will be done in my life. No matter what that means, where that leads. God give me the faith and the strength to live Your will, for Your glory!” Amen

PASSAGE: Matthew 26:39, 42 - And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”… Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

PAUSE: Jesus taught us that our Heavenly Father welcomes honest prayer. Jesus did not want to suffer and die. He begged his Father to take that cup of burden away from him. We can be honest with our Heavenly Father, it’s okay. 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I desire to be honest in my prayer life. I openly admit that life is hard, I am struggling, and I want my story to be different.