I sure am glad the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, so His words could be recorded and we can use them two thousand years later.

“The Lord’s Prayer” is how I start most of my days. It helps me begin the day with the proper perspective – giving God glory, asking for forgiveness and help for the day. But this morning as I prayed the prayer, four words stood out even more than usual. “Your will be done.”

I had just heard those words at a Good Friday service, from the book of Matthew. Three different times. They are said by Jesus, just before He is betrayed by Judas in the garden and taken to trial and then execution. 

As He is walking in the garden, His soul feels sorrowful to the point of death. He falls on His face, saying: “My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matt. 26:39)

He then finds the disciples sleeping, After asking them to watch and pray, he bows before His Father, asking again for the cup to be taken from Him. But he ends with, “May your will be done.” (26:42)

He again finds the disciples drifting off and goes on His own to pray.  And He lifts up the same prayer a third time. (26:44)

Jesus’s human side is in agony over what God had called Him to do. He expresses the turmoil in His heart over and over again to His Father. And then He surrenders to His Father’s will.

What an incredible example of how to pray.

How often, when I pray the Lord’s Prayer, do I just quickly skim over these four important words? Do I take the time to say them and mean them? “Your will be done.” Do I really desire for God’s will to be done? After I bring my requests before God, do I lay them at His feet, in submission to whatever may happen, even if it is difficult and painful? 

It’s reassuring to know that even Jesus struggled with this. He prayed for there to be a different plan. But He repeatedly turned His will in submission to His Father. “Your will be done.”

And He meant it. Because He did it. And thanks to His obedience, our lives will never be the same.
Thank you, Jesus, for surrendering to the Father’s will, even though it was unbearably difficult. Help me to give my life and everything in it totally to you. As I make requests to you, let my mindset be one of submission, no matter the outcome, trusting Your plan. As I pray the Lord’s Prayer, let me truly ponder on and mean these words: Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.