Day 27

Be Still:  Dear Father, thank you for these honest words Jesus prayed at Gethsemane.  Please help us to pray honestly, too.  In Jesus’ name, through the power of the Spirit, Amen

Be Strengthened: Matthew 26:39-46

³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. ⁴¹"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

⁴²He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

⁴³When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Be Stretched:  Think about any difficult and unpleasant things going on in your life right now.  Are there situations you’ve prayed God would resolve that are still weighing heavily on you?  Take comfort in the fact that even Jesus, the Son of God, asked if there was any other way.  When you pray, be honest about where you are.  Then, pray that through the Spirit you might have the courage to pray with Jesus, “may Your will be done.”