God’s Will Not Mine

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears”. Hebrews 5:7

In my devotional yesterday, I spoke of the trials of life that each one of experience. Times when we experience the Disciplines of Life that lead us towards maturity in Christ. When we think about the life of our Lord Jesus, His life on earth was not easy, He didn’t have a home, some people wanted him to be a king, others rejected him as a heretic; one friend betrayed him; another denied him; all his followers abandoned him; and he was publicly crucified as a criminal. What’s more, as he died for our sake, he took upon himself the punishment for all our sin.

Jesus understands our suffering. Hebrews 5:7 teaches us that Jesus prayed passionately “with fervent cries and tears,” which is something many of us have done when facing difficult circumstances. We have pleaded with God to heal our disease, to save our job, to bring our children to faith, to rescue us from imminent danger, to extend a loved one’s life.

In times of need, Jesus prayed with reverence and humble submission. Mark 14:36 tells us, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.

Thought For Today: Why do you think suffering was part of God’s Will for Jesus? Are our lives any different? When you kneel before God—with cries and tears can you echo Jesus’ prayer to the Father: “Not what I will, but what you will.”

Today’s Prayer Focus: In the midst of your trials and suffering, take time to ask Jesus to help you submit to his perfect will. Deo Volente