Before You Start Your Day, Pray This: 'Not My Will, but Yours, Lord | Morning Prayer

before we pray I'd like to share a short message and then we'll pray together there is a beautiful saying found in the Bible that tells us about two special Gardens the Garden of Eden and The Garden of Gethsemane these Gardens are not just physical places they symbolize two very different ways of living and making choices in our lives they teach us lessons about obedience trust and love when we reflect on these two Gardens we begin to understand how our choices can either draw us closer to God or separate us from him in the Garden of

Eden we first meet Adam and Eve the very first humans created by God they lived in perfect harmony with God at first but then they made a choice instead of listening to God they decided to follow their own desires thinking I want to do this my way this was a turning point they chose their own will over over God's guidance because of this they disobeyed God and their choice LED them down a path of Sin Sin separated them from God introducing shame guilt and a feeling of hiding from his loving presence this story shows us

how our own decisions when centered on ourselves rather than on God can lead us away from the loving connection that God wants to share with us in a very different setting we see Jesus in The Garden of Gethsemane this was a place of deep emotion and significant decision making Jesus knew what was ahead of him the pain of the cross the weight of our sins and the loneliness of separation from God yet in this Garden Jesus chose to obey God's plan completely instead of insisting on his own way even when it would have been easier

to avoid the suffering Jesus prayed not my will but your will God he showed tremendous strength by setting his own feelings aside even though he felt sorrow and distress he still chose to trust and follow God's plan this moment teaches us that true obedience often means trusting in God even when it's hard and putting his will above our own desires let's look at some specific moments from these Gardens to understand their differences more clearly in Eden Adam and Eve hid from God because they felt ashamed and afraid of his judgment due to their Disobedience they

let their fear and shame control their actions in Gethsemane Jesus showed us a completely opposite attitude he did not hide from God instead he made himself fully available to his father ready to follow his will no matter what it cost him personally Adam and Eve were deceived by the Enemy by lies that led them away from God and into spiritual death their story warns us of the dangers of believing those lies and making choices based on falsehoods in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus began a journey filled with love deep pain and the ultimate Act of

sacrifice his journey took him from a place of prayer to the Cross where his sacrifice made it possible for us to have eternal life his choices show us that even in the most difficult circumstances we can choose to trust in God's love and follow his plans for us knowing that his love will carry us through the stories of these two gardens aren't just about events in the past they are symbols for the choices each of us faces every day in our own lives every day we make decisions that either draw us closer to God or

push us away we have control over how we live the decision we make and the attitudes we choose this reflection invites us to consider are we living in a way that hides from God or are we seeking him wholeheartedly what I'm trying to convey is this in your life both spiritually and practically you have a choice you can live like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden believing the lies of the enemy acting on those lies and disobeying God the this way of living often leads to guilt shame and a tendency to hide from

God because you feel Unworthy of his presence it's a state where your life is overshadowed by sin and fear or you can choose to live like Jesus in The Garden of Gethsemane this means choosing a life that is sacrificial and obedient to God saying your will God and not my will living this way isn't always easy there will be times when you feel sad troubled or overwhelmed but even in those moments you make the choice to obey God and Trust in his plan this kind of living is centered on God it's about seeking his will

trusting his love and obeying his guidance no matter what challenges you face I want to encourage you dear friend to strive to be Christlike try to set aside moments in your day to be alone with God In Prayer now with this standing in our hearts let us pray together dear God You Are Holy Majestic and full of love in everything you do I think about the powerful words of Jesus in The Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed my father if it is possible may this cup be taken from me yet not as I will but

as you will Lord I ask that when when I face moments of deep sorrow confusion or challenge you help me remember to trust and lean on you completely may I learn to act according to your will and not just according to my own desires or fears Jesus faced a choice that was incredibly difficult he could have avoided the path of suffering but he chose to follow your plan because he loved us so much he willingly accepted pain and sacrifice on on the cross to save us from sin I am in awe of that love your

word in Philippians 2:8 reminds me that Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross thank you for this extraordinary example of obedience and love I pray that you help me in my own life to be attentive to your voice to follow your will and to live in a way that as you Jesus became a human walked the Earth and set an example of a Godly life I ask you to change me from the inside out so that I may always seek your kingdom above everything else transform my heart and mind

so that I can reflect Jesus's love kindness and obedience in all that I do Lord Jesus I am filled with gratitude and amazement when I think about your love for me me I remember that because you loved me so much you allowed yourself to suffer greatly you were mocked beaten crowned with thorns wounded and nailed to a cross also so that I could be healed and saved your word declares in 1 Peter 2:4 that you bore our sins in your body on the cross so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness by

your wounds we have been healed and I am forever grateful for that healing and salvation I declare Isaiah 53:5 over my life but he was wounded for my transgressions he was bruised for my iniquities the punishment for my peace was on him and by his stripes I am healed thank you Jesus that through your sacrifice I am healed and made whole I also hold on to the truth of gal Ians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and the life I now live

in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me this verse reminds me that my old self is gone because of Christ's sacrifice and now I live through his life empowered by his love and his word I can face each day knowing that I am not alone Christ lives in me and guides my every step Lord I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the fact that even while I was still a sinner you did not hesitate to send your son to die for me as I struggle

to find words all I can say is thank you my heart sings out in worship because of your perfect love righteousness and the incredible humility you showed in coming to Earth for my sake even though Jesus was without sin he chose to become human so that I would not be lost what a magnificent gift of love you are the way the truth and the life because of your sacrifice I can find Freedom from sin and I can experience true joy peace and freedom I ask for your help daily to carry my own cross which means

accepting the challenges you give me and staying faithful despite them help me to reach out to you each day for help strength and guidance remind me that your word in Matthew 10:38 tells us whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me give me the courage and strength to pick up my cross and follow you trusting in your plan for my life Lord please give me the strength to look up to you the author and finisher of my faith you know every detail of my life my Joys my struggles

my hopes and my fears I ask that you comfort me and free me from Sorrows worries fears and doubts replace these feelings with your incredible boundless love a love so strong and Relentless that even when I feel weak I still know that you offer me a path to eternal life in John 16 Verse 33 Jesus you said these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace in this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overc come the world this assurance from Jesus fills me with hope and courage

even as I face challenges and trials I know that you Lord have already overcome the world because of that I can have peace in the midst of trouble and I can believe in Victory through you thank you Lord Jesus for this wonderful life you have given me as I begin this day let your will be done in all my ways and may your name always be glorified in whatever I do in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen if this prayer has touched your heart please type amen as a sign of faith I pray

that every blessing in this prayer is now upon you in the name of Jesus and if you need a special prayer feel free to let us know in the comments we would be honored to pray for you May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always ways