Youth · Day 5 of 7
Not My Will
Read: Matthew 26:36-46 (KJV)
36Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Read the whole chapter ›What it means
In the garden of Gethsemane, just hours before the cross, Jesus prayed with more emotion than we see almost anywhere else in the Gospels. He said His soul was 'exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.' He fell on His face. He asked the Father if there was any other way. This tells you something powerful: prayer can be raw. You can bring God your fear, your sadness, and your honest wishes. Jesus did. But Jesus also prayed, 'nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.' That is the heart of mature prayer. It is not just telling God what you want and waiting for Him to deliver. It is trusting that His plan is better, even when it is harder. Think about your future: college, career, relationships, where you will live. It is good to ask God for what you hope for. It is even better to hold those hopes with open hands. Meanwhile, the disciples kept falling asleep. Jesus told them, 'Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.' Prayer is not only for emergencies. It keeps you spiritually awake and ready. And because Jesus surrendered in that garden, He went to the cross for you. His 'not my will' became your salvation.
Key verse
“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
Matthew 26:39 (KJV)
Journal it
- What is something you really want for your future? Write a prayer giving it to God with open hands.
- Why do you think Jesus was so honest about His feelings in prayer? Do you feel free to be honest with God?
- When are you most likely to be spiritually 'asleep'? What could help you stay awake?
Write your answers in a notebook or the notes app on your phone.