We all know that living in such a way that honors God and forming God-honoring habits does not come naturally to us. Selfishness and impatience are our natural responses. Like children, we want what we want, and we want it now. We are impulsive and want to give in to our sins and unhealthy desires. This way of living, however, is no way to live. When we live this way, we will not grow or form God-honoring habits. In fact, living a life that honors him and forming Christ-like habits means surrendering our will and our desires to Him.
Jesus set the prime example for us of what it looks like to surrender our own will and desires to God the Father. In Luke 22, He was moments away from His arrest and crucifixion on the cross. Deeply grieved about the suffering ahead of Him, Jesus got alone to pray. As He prayed to God the Father, He said, "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me" (verse 42). Jesus was honest about His feelings. He wanted to escape the suffering that awaited Him if there were any possible way. He did not end His prayer there, however. He continued, praying, "Yet I want your will to be done, not mine" (verse 42). Despite knowing the deep pain and suffering awaiting Him, Jesus still surrendered to God the Father's will. What a remarkable example He set for us.
If I am being honest, praying, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine,” is much easier said than done. Surrendering to His will is not always easy. Maybe you can relate. The truth is, however, we must remember that He is all-knowing, and we are not. He is all-powerful, and we are weak. If we have to choose between our will and His, His will is best every single time. He is our creator and the creator of the entire universe. When we surrender to His will, we are better equipped to form habits that honor Christ and live in a way that points others to Him. May you and I surrender to His will today.
Our call today is to follow Jesus’ example of surrender. Over the next few moments, pray to God the Father. Surrender your will to God, praying, “I want your will to be done, not mine.” Let this attitude of surrender guide you toward growth and Christ-honoring habits.
39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”
41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”
47 But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. 48 But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” 50 And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear.
51 But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him. “Am I some dangerous revolutionary,” he asked, “that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? 53 Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”
