Day 18 | Jesus' Prayer of Deliverance
THEN JESUS WENT WITH THEM TO A PLACE CALLED GETHSEMANE, AND HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, “SIT HERE, WHILE I GO OVER THERE AND PRAY.” AND TAKING WITH HIM PETER AND THE TWO SONS OF ZEBEDEE, HE BEGAN TO BE SORROWFUL AND TROUBLED. 38 THEN HE SAID TO THEM, “MY SOUL IS VERY SORROWFUL, EVEN TO DEATH; REMAIN HERE, AND WATCH WITH ME.” 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.” MATTHEW 26:36-39
O Lord, my savior, You went to a place called Gethsemane to be pressed like grapes for wine. You were crushed under the weight of the world to fulfill Your Father’s will. I will never know the price You paid for my salvation. Forgive me for falling asleep when you invited me to watch and pray with you. I regret that during these moments of my absence I caused you the deepest distress and sorrow.
How excruciatingly painful it was for you to know the divine purpose the Father sent you to fulfill. Your human nature sweat drops of blood over the cup of suffering that was yours to drink on my behalf. You fell on your face, and prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me.”
In my Gethsemane moment, give me the strength to lay down my will and pick up the way of your cross. In this I will know the fellowship of Your suffering and be welcomed by the saints who gave their lives to build your kingdom. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. Amen.
