| Photo by Alex Noriega on Unsplash
In Matthew 26, we see many events in the last few days before Jesus died on the Cross, for the sins of the world. Beginning in Matthew 26:36, we see that Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray with his closest disciples, Peter, James, and John.
It was not an ordinary prayer meeting because Jesus knew the Cross was coming. Look at how Jesus feels about the Cross, and we can learn from His prayer in the Garden.
* Verse 37 – Jesus is anguished and distressed. Jesus knows the suffering, the pain, and what He is going to face. How many of us may be anguished and distressed by many things in life? We can learn from Jesus that when we feel this way, we need to pray!
We need to turn to our Heavenly Father, who can do something in us or for us.
* Verse 38 – Jesus wanted His closest friends to be with Him in this difficult time of life. We need community and fellowship when we are going through trials in life. That is why God gave us the church, so that we can carry one another’s burdens.
* Verse 39 – Jesus shows us how to pray in the difficult things of life. “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken from. YET I WANT YOUR WILL TO BE DONE, NOT MINE.” How many of us can pray about what we go through and say – “Lord take this thing away, but not my will but Your will be done?”
Lord, help me to pray and seek Your will above my will in all of the seasons of my life! Today, “Come to Me all you that are anguished, stressed, worried, fearful, and I will give you REST!”
Lord, help me to REST AND NOT STRESS today!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the International Christian Center (ICC) Lead Senior Pastor at Staten Island, New York, since 2011. He draws on many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and from significant emotional experiences.
His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is receiving rave reviews. His daily devotional appears in this publication.
