me Lord, to trust you without reservation.”

I love the honesty Jesus displays, asking (my paraphrase), “Does it have to be this way?” and yet it’s always coupled with, “But I want your will over mine.” And His persistence to continue asking until He gets to a place of full submission – what a lesson for me, and for us all. God can handle our questions, our struggles, as many times as we need to bring them, as we eventually move to a place of submission and acceptance. He made us. He knows us. And He knows that the battle to submission is fought in prayer. Jesus’ prayer also shows us a glimpse of the relationship He had with the Father, one of complete trust. Through Jesus’ example we see this: as I pray, as I struggle, I must also trust! Trust that God’s will is ALWAYS best. Are my prayers prayed with trust that even if I don’t get my “list” fulfilled, He is still trustworthy? “Help me Lord, to trust you without reservation.”

My last observation relates to Jesus’ frustration with His disciples. It seems those He brought with him and asked to tarry with him, do not have a clear understanding of the importance of what is happening as Jesus wrestles in prayer. They can’t even stay awake! Anyone reading this passage who is an intercessor or who has tried to establish a prayer ministry in their church, may relate to Jesus’ frustration. Jesus asks them to watch and tarry with Him. He challenges them and reminds them of the importance of prayer and that it will help them not give in to temptation, but eventually he tells them to go ahead and rest. How I interpret Jesus’ example here is that He invites others to deeper prayer and He tells them the importance, but what they choose to do does not change His response to what He is called to do. Prayer warriors, continue to intercede as God calls you to, no matter what; continue to establish prayer meetings and prayer coverage, even if very few respond. Not everyone will join you but do what God has called you to regardless.

Let’s travail in prayer with trust, honesty, persistence and submission to God’s will over our own. Let’s continue to invite others to join us in prayer while also having grace for those who may not yet understand the call… But above all, PRAY!

I want to leave you with these words from Andrew Murray:

“Blessed Lord Jesus! Gethsemane was the school where You learned to pray and to obey. It is still Your school, where You lead all Your disciples who wish to learn to obey and to pray just like You Lord! Teach me there to pray, in the faith that You have atoned for and conquered our self-will and can indeed give us grace to pray like you…

Blessed Lord! Open my heart, and the hearts of all Your people, to fully take in the glory of the truth: That a will, given up to God, is a will God accepts for use in His service, to desire, determine, and will what is according to God’s will. Let mine be a will which, by the power of the Holy Spirit, exercises its royal prerogative in prayer… O Lord Jesus! Teach me to pray. Amen.”