Not My Will

By Paul Chappell

"And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."

Luke 22:39-42

One of the most powerful books revealing the horrors of the prison system in the former Soviet Union is Alexander Solzhenitsyn's A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch. The main character, Ivan, undergoes unspeakable hardship and horror. One day another inmate notices Ivan in silent prayer. In mockery the inmate says, "Prayers won't help you get out of here any faster." Opening his eyes, Ivan replies, "I do not pray to get out of prison but to do the will of God."

God has given us the privilege to come to Him in prayer, but sometimes we fall into the trap of praying according to our own will and purposes. While we certainly may ask God for what we desire, our prayers must always be in submission to His will. We do not pray to tell God our needs—He already knows them even before we ask. And we should not pray to tell God the solution to our problems. That is His sovereign choice.

Instead we should pray that our lives will bring honor and glory to Him and that our needs will be met according to His plan. When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was facing greater suffering than any of us can imagine, yet He was still willing to endure the pain and death of the cross to accomplish God’s will and our salvation. Our prayers should be offered in the same spirit of submission.

Today's Rooted Principle:

Pray for God’s will rather than your own, and you will pray powerful and effective prayers.