Praying Like JesusSample

Trust and Follow the King

Yesterday, we learned our prayers start from a posture of gratitude and praise. Our problems begin to look smaller as we remember who God is and what He’s done—and as we prioritize honoring and adoring our heavenly Father as the One worthy of all praise.

Moving on through the Lord’s Prayer, we find this famous and powerful proclamation:

“... your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 NIV

Sometimes, out of fear or stubborn pride, we live from a different prayer that says “may my kingdom come, and my will be done.” So, because of this tendency, we need reminding of the freedom and redemptive beauty of God’s good plans.

Consider Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion. He asked His Father three separate times for the “cup” of suffering to be taken away from Him. But Jesus’ prayers didn’t stop with simply asking for what He desired. In each instance He said, “Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Can you grasp the wonder of this? Facing excruciating pain and sorrow in His very near future, Jesus entrusted Himself to His Father. He knew the Father’s will and what He had sent Him to earth to accomplish.

His obedient trust and commitment to the Kingdom’s mission led Jesus to the pain of the cross, then into the darkness of the grave, and finally to His glorious resurrection.

This incredible act of surrender to God’s will culminated in our eternal salvation and the promise of resurrection for us too!

Jesus’ example teaches us that we can trust God’s guidance through every circumstance. We should absolutely and continually ask God in faith for what we need and desire, all while trusting that He knows how to orchestrate our lives for our good and His glory.

Surrendering to God’s will isn’t passive—and it’s certainly not natural or easy. But Jesus encourages us to humble ourselves and trust God’s ways that lead to life and peace.

Pause and Reflect

What concern(s) have you been trying to “fix” or improve by your will and ways? When you’re ready, pray and entrust it to God. Ask Him to guide your next steps.

Pray

Heavenly Father, Your arms are always wide open to receive me. Help me yearn to run into them. I deny myself and surrender to Your will—yes, I choose Your will and Your way. You gave me Your life, and I give You mine. Help me trust You fully. In Jesus’ name, amen.