Welcome!
Today: The most difficult prayer
Passage: Matthew 26, Prov 22
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. (Matthew 26, NIV 84)-emphasis added
Jesus prayed the most difficult prayer of all times, in the garden of Gethsemane
Why call it the most difficult prayer?
Jesus himself makes it clear. Even as Jesus wanted to please the father in each and everything, we see a “conflict” between His will and the Father’s
The conflict (not exactly a conflict), I believe, is not because Jesus wanted to escape the cross, but because he hated sin so much; he could not take it, being the “worst sinner ever”, while on the cross
That was what exactly happened. Name any sin; that was all put (blamed) upon Jesus!
If someone accuses us of one silly thing we didn’t do, we will get on top of our emotions; we will express our anger so much so that everyone else should know, “I didn’t do it”
But that was not Jesus. He wouldn’t struggle to prove himself!
So, Father’s will was that Jesus should carry all those sins upon Him, including every sin you and I do with our thoughts, words and actions
That is why, “Thy will be done” is the most difficult prayer always
Jesus is not only our role model, but also our example
When we pray “your will be done in my life, Oh Lord”, do we really mean that?
When somebody wants to marry a certain person and prays that prayer, and if the Lord has someone else in mind, how far will that person be able to accept it?
Most of our prayers are only to get God’s help in achieving the results we want!
“I want that job/car/house or whatever. So, Lord, just give it to me”
This is how most modern churches and leaders teach people to pray
They fondly call it “the prayer of faith” (I would call it “the prayer of greed”)
If “Faith” comes from God, then we cannot use that faith to get our will done!
May be it is time to change the way we think and pray!
God bless your week end. Let the resurrection power of Jesus rule every day of our lives. Jesus is alive. Don’t kill Him again!
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to be able to accept your will for my life. I know it is difficult, but with your help, it is possible. Thank you Jesus, for your sacrifice for me. Amen
Proverbs: Proverbs 22 (verses from NIV 84)
3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
6 Train[a] a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.
29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.