Reflecting on Luke 22:39-46“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Jesus taught His disciples to pray like Him.
He taught them to pray: ‘May Your kingdom come, may Your will be done’.
This is how Jesus is praying in Gethsemane as well.
That was His ‘on earth as it was in heaven’.
Sometimes it is easy to pray this, when things are going well.
But do we pray this way when we are in crisis, or afraid, or suffering?
As Jesus followers, we follow Jesus in surrendering to God’s goodness.
We trust that God’s purpose is good, and He will lead us through valleys too.
God’s kingdom plan, and His good will, is to raise us up to LIFE.
Jesus trusted this, even though His path led through suffering and death.
In my current uncertainty or struggle, I want to hang on to this.
But like Jesus I am also asking for a less difficult path to that goal.
I do not want to suffer, and I will not choose to suffer if I can avoid it.
But if that path comes my way, I want to surrender to God’s good purpose.
For more than anything, I want to experience God’s kingdom plan and good will!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Your dream for all people is "no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4). I do not want to suffer now, but help me to surrender to whatever cup is needed to bring about Your 'very good' kingdom purpose!
I was created to serve Him. Today, as in every day, I need His guidancee to serve Him. This is only a possibilty when I ask Jesus to pilot me. I need Him every hour. In the good times and in the difficult times.
Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life’s tempestuous seas
Chart and compass came from thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treach’rous shoal,
Chart and compass came from thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
As a mother still her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Boist’rous waves obey thy will
When thou say’st to them, “Be still!”
Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
When at last I near the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar
May I hear thee say to me,
“Fear not; I will pilot thee.”
Twixt me and the peaceful rest,
Then, while leaning on thy breast,
May I hear thee say to me
“Fear not; I will pilot thee.”