Prayer: Aligning Our Will with God's Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Submitting to God's Will in Suffering

In times of grief and hardship, prayer becomes a profound act of submission to God's will, as demonstrated by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Despite knowing the suffering that awaited Him, Jesus prayed for the cup of suffering to be taken away, yet ultimately submitted to God's plan. This teaches us that prayer is not just about presenting our desires but aligning ourselves with God's purpose, even when it leads us through pain and uncertainty. In our darkest moments, we are called to seek God's presence and trust in His plan, knowing that His ways are higher than ours. [38:26]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Think of a current struggle or sorrow in your life. How can you submit this situation to God's will today, trusting in His greater plan?

Day 2: Strengthening the Spirit Over the Flesh

Jesus' words, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak," highlight the ongoing battle between our spiritual desires and human weaknesses. The disciples' inability to stay awake and pray with Jesus in Gethsemane serves as a reminder of our need for spiritual discipline and vigilance. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in prayer and overcome our weaknesses. This reliance is crucial for maintaining spiritual vigilance and aligning our actions with our spiritual intentions. [44:40]

Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where your flesh often overcomes your spiritual intentions. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in this area today?

Day 3: The Power of Persistent Prayer

Jesus' repeated prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane demonstrate the importance of persistence and submission in prayer. Even when the answer is not what we desire, we are encouraged to continually seek God's will, trusting that His plan is for our ultimate good. Persistence in prayer is not about changing God's mind but about aligning our hearts with His purpose and growing in faith and trust. [46:10]

Luke 18:1-5 (ESV): "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, 'In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, "Give me justice against my adversary."'"

Reflection: Reflect on a prayer request you have been bringing to God. How can you continue to persist in prayer, trusting in His timing and will?

Day 4: Building a Community of Prayer

As a church, we are called to be a community that prioritizes prayer, seeking God's guidance in all circumstances. Our collective prayers should reflect a desire for God's will to be accomplished, serving as a testament to His power and grace. By coming together in prayer, we support one another and strengthen our faith, becoming a beacon of hope and love in a chaotic world. [57:35]

Acts 2:42 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

Reflection: How can you contribute to building a stronger community of prayer within your church or small group this week?

Day 5: Returning to God in Gratitude and Submission

After receiving an answer to our prayers, whether favorable or not, we must return to God in gratitude and submission. Acknowledging His sovereignty and thanking Him for His will being accomplished is a vital part of our prayer life. This act of returning to God in prayer reinforces our trust in His perfect plan and deepens our relationship with Him. [47:30]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Reflection: Think of a recent prayer that was answered, whether in the way you hoped or not. How can you express gratitude to God for His answer and continue to trust in His sovereignty?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound depth of prayer, particularly in times of grief and hardship, as exemplified by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. We began by reflecting on the context of Jesus' prayer, following the Last Supper and leading up to His crucifixion. Jesus, fully aware of the impending betrayal and suffering, chose to pray fervently, demonstrating the importance of seeking God's will above all else. This moment in the garden is not just a precursor to the crucifixion but a powerful lesson on the nature of prayer and submission to God's will.

Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane reveals His humanity and His divine mission. Despite the overwhelming sorrow and the knowledge of His impending suffering, Jesus prayed for the cup of suffering to be taken from Him, yet ultimately submitted to God's will. This teaches us that prayer is not merely about asking for our desires but aligning ourselves with God's purpose, even when it leads us through pain and uncertainty.

We also examined the disciples' failure to stay awake and pray with Jesus, highlighting the human tendency to falter in spiritual vigilance. Jesus' gentle rebuke, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak," serves as a reminder of our need for spiritual discipline and reliance on the Holy Spirit to overcome our weaknesses.

Furthermore, we discussed the importance of returning to God in prayer after receiving an answer, whether it aligns with our desires or not. Jesus' repeated prayers in the garden show us the necessity of persistence in prayer and the acceptance of God's will, even when it is difficult.

As a church, we are called to be a community of prayer, seeking God's guidance in all circumstances and being a testament to His power and grace in a chaotic world. We must prioritize prayer, not as a last resort but as our first response, trusting in God's sovereignty and His perfect plan for our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. Prayer in Times of Grief: Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane teaches us to bring our deepest sorrows and desires to God, yet ultimately submit to His will. In our darkest moments, we should seek God's presence and trust in His plan, even when it leads us through suffering. [38:26]
2. The Spirit and the Flesh: Jesus' words, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak," remind us of the constant battle between our spiritual desires and human weaknesses. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in prayer and spiritual vigilance. [44:40]
3. Persistence in Prayer: Jesus' repeated prayers in the garden demonstrate the importance of persistence and submission in prayer. We should continually seek God's will, even when the answer is not what we desire, trusting that His plan is for our ultimate good. [46:10]
4. Community of Prayer: As a church, we are called to be a community that prioritizes prayer, seeking God's guidance in all circumstances. Our collective prayers should reflect a desire for God's will to be accomplished, serving as a testament to His power and grace. [57:35]
5. Returning to God in Prayer: After receiving an answer to our prayers, whether favorable or not, we must return to God in gratitude and submission. Acknowledging His sovereignty and thanking Him for His will being accomplished is a vital part of our prayer life. [47:30]
** [47:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:59] - Setting the Scene: The Last Supper
[28:53] - Jesus' Emotional State
[29:53] - Betrayal and Abandonment
[31:01] - The Nature of Our Prayers
[31:45] - The Garden of Gethsemane
[32:31] - Jesus' Foreknowledge and Acceptance
[34:01] - The Disciples' Role in Prayer
[35:27] - Jesus' Humanity and Sorrow
[36:59] - The Importance of Prayer Before Action
[38:26] - Jesus' Prayer for the Cup to Pass
[39:40] - The Disciples' Weakness
[41:13] - Feeling Alone in Prayer
[42:48] - Peter's Temptation and Denial
[44:40] - The Spirit is Willing, but the Flesh is Weak
[46:10] - Jesus' Second Prayer
[47:30] - Returning to God in Prayer
[49:12] - The Disciples' Sleep and Jesus' Patience
[51:03] - The Will of God in Prayer
[52:47] - Personal Reflection on Prayer
[54:07] - The Disciples' Regret
[55:22] - The Importance of Prayer in Our Lives
[56:36] - A Church Known for Prayer
[57:35] - Thanking God for His Will
[58:34] - Reflecting on God's Blessings
[59:30] - Aligning with God's Will
[60:10] - A Personal Story of Trusting God's Plan
[61:27] - Working Together in Prayer
[62:31] - Jesus' Example of Prayer
[63:02] - Trusting God's Will in Loss
[63:39] - Supporting Each Other in Prayer
[64:19] - Jesus' Courage and Submission
[64:50] - Embracing God's Will
[65:21] - The Love of Control
[65:51] - Jesus' Sacrifice and Submission
[66:34] - Jesus' Prayer on the Cross
[67:11] - Seeking God First
[68:17] - Wise Counsel Rooted in Prayer
[68:54] - Listening for God's Guidance
[69:36] - Trusting God's Knowledge
[70:23] - Ending Our Prayers with Submission
[71:00] - Closing Prayer
[74:44] - Announcements and Dismissal

Sermon Clips

1) "Let's not deny that the quickest way in which we pray and the easiest way I believe in which we pray is when something is wrong. When something bad is happening in our lives, if you are a Christian and you're walking by faith in Christ, you know you can turn to the Lord. And he tells you to turn to him in prayer. But we leave out all of the depth of who he is and what he's doing and what he is going to do to jump to our circumstances and to jump to our problems. And we leave out the holiness of God. We maybe forget to take in the greatness of who he is." [31:01] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "He takes them anyway. He takes them to the garden anyway. He knows they're all going to scatter. He knows one's betraying him and is going to eventually die as a result of that. But he knows they're all going to scatter. knows that his closest friends, his closest people that he has to him, are going to leave. And I thought about this, and I said, what? I don't want to add to the Gospels by any stretch of the imagination, but I do want us to get into the mindset of the situation that's happening. Jesus is physically taking himself to the garden where he knows Judas is going to lead the enemy to him. Jesus didn't run away. He didn't go and flee when he had the chance." [32:31] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "The time and circumstances are now coming. This showing Jesus' humanity that he was full of sorrow. He was deeply troubled about what was about to happen. He was in pain. He was frustrated. He was, he had everything. He was in pain. He was in pain. He was in pain. He was in pain. He had every emotion imaginable that we see in scripture, but he understood that this was the way it had to be. But here's the next kicker, that the next thing that I thought about when we're looking at this through the lens of prayer, before Jesus goes to trial, before Jesus goes to the cross, what does he do? Prays." [35:27] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Jesus talking about, the cup Jesus is talking about is a powerful picture in the Old Testament, the wrath and judgment of God. And in this moment, Jesus is praying that if it's possible, if there's any other way for God's will to be accomplished, take the wrath of God away from him, take the cup away. But notice what Jesus says at the end of his prayer. He says, yet not as I will, but as you will. He understood that it was possible for me to be taken from him, but as you will. He knew that this was the only way for salvation to come to people, to humanity." [38:26] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Jesus understood the spirit of prayer. The Holy Spirit was active amongst the of Christ and the followers, the disciples. But he knew that the spirit was willing. The spirit was willing to help Peter and the disciples pray and stay awake and watch the people, watch for what's coming. The spirit was willing to do it, but it says the flesh is weak. The flesh of the disciples, the human nature of them says, I am too tired to pray. I am too tired to sit here and keep watch with my best friend and my teacher and my rabbi, my Messiah." [44:40] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "If we go before the Lord and say, God, please don't let me go to do this. Please take this pain away from me. God, please heal this person. God, do this. God, do that. And we have this prayer over and over again, this persistence and boldness that we cry out to God, which we should. But once we receive the answer, do we go back to God in prayer? And do we say, God, I will do whatever your will says. I will go wherever you tell me to go. And every person that is sick that I'm praying for, if they are healed, great. If they get to be with you, that's great too." [46:10] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "I can't remember a single time I regretted the fact that I prayed. I may be the only one. I hope I'm not. But as you think back on your lives, the times that you sit down and pray to the Lord for something, do you ever regret the fact that you took however long that time was to pray? No. But I wonder if we actually sat down and thought about our lives all the times where we should have prayed. And we didn't. And would we regret those times that we didn't?" [56:36] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "If Jesus in his darkest moment at this point turned to God in prayer, then how much more should we be in prayer to the Lord every day? Instead of going to get support or options or opinions from his closest friends, Jesus prayed. See, here's the other thing I thought about when reading this idea. If Jesus is in this pain and this agony, in this hardship, and he's wanting to go to God in prayer to figure out God's will, he does that. But what we do sometimes as humans is we say, I'm going through this so much, let me call up my best friend and tell them what I'm going through." [01:07:11] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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