Matthew 26:36-39, 45-46

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Then he came to the disciples and said, “… look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

The most courageous moment in the history of humankind is when Jesus made the final decision to redeem us. As fully human, like you or me…He stood at the last crossroads before the actual cross and said yes for us. The turning point in that battle was when He stated, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

In our final day of this week’s series on courage, the way we may live in confidence and express courage in the face of any trial is by stating to God: “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Think about the stories we have visited this week, David, Gideon, Ruth, and Esther—each one had to come to the place of saying “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Even David the warrior would have preferred to not risk his life that day, but he knew there was a much higher purpose for his life than protecting sheep.

Where in your life today are you battling a decision or struggling with a calling? Where do you need to let go and follow Jesus into saying, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” And even repeat His words: “Look—the time has come. Up—let’s be going.” The reality for you, though, is that your decision will not end in death. In fact, your personal courage could potentially create far more life than you ever knew before.

Let’s pray: “Lord Jesus, thank You that You made the choice for me in the garden. You chose God’s will for redemption and sacrificed your own will and life. Help me now to follow Your example and continually say to You: “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” As above, so below.”

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