June 25: Not My Will

There’s one prayer that sums up willingness better than any other.

It was the night before the cross. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray. He knew what was coming. And He prayed honestly: Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.

Two parts. First, an honest request. Jesus didn’t pretend He wanted to suffer. He asked for another way. Second, surrender. Your will, not Mine.

Jesus held both at once. Honesty about what He wanted. And trust that the Father’s will was better.

That’s the shape of Step Six. You’re allowed to be honest. You can tell God which defects you want to keep. You can admit that letting go scares you. You can ask if there’s another way.

But then comes the surrender. Not my will, but Yours.

This connects back to Step Three, when you decided to turn your will and your life over to God’s care. Step Six puts that decision into practice with specifics. Not just “my life” in general, but this particular defect. This habit. This fear. This resentment. Your will, not mine, about each of them.

It’s not a one-time prayer. Many people pray it every morning. Some pray it many times a day, every time a defect shows up. Not my will, but Yours.

Notice also what happened after Jesus prayed. Luke says an angel came and strengthened Him. Surrender didn’t leave Him alone. It brought help.

The same is true for you. When you surrender, God doesn’t walk away and leave you to struggle. He strengthens you for what comes next.

If this prayer feels too big today, start small. Pray it about one moment. One conversation. One decision. Surrender often grows the same way trust does, a little at a time, as you see God keep His word.

One thing today

Pray Jesus’ prayer about one specific defect: Father, if You’re willing, I’d like to keep this. But not my will, Yours be done. Pray it each time that defect shows up today.

A prayer

Father, I’ll be honest. There are things I don’t want to give up. But not my will, but Yours, be done. Strengthen me the way You strengthened Jesus. Amen.

On surrender and willingness: Step Six.

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