“Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Luke 22:39-42, And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Jesus is entering the last stage of his walk to the cross, and begins one of his most passionate times of prayer. It’s interesting that he does not ask his disciples to pray for him, or to pray that he would have the cup removed, but that they might not enter into temptation. Scripture is clear that he knew his purpose, but that did not make it any easier and later we see that he prayed even more earnestly, “and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Often we come to pray not seeking to fulfill the Lord’s calling, but to set forth our own solutions. Perhaps we should pray more often that we enter not into temptation?

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one; not my will but yours be done as you use us in your amazing plan today, O Lord.

ESV Lectionary