Day 5: Pride and presumption
[Jesus] withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
Our Father, God of unfailing love and compassion, hallowed be Your name. In the past, You made Your loving and trustworthy purpose clear to the nation You called to be Your own: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).
Unchanging God, You give the same reassurance to Your people today, reminding us that it is God who works in [us] to will and to act in order to fulfill [Your] good purpose (Philippians 2:13). But You know, O Father, that in this confused, chaotic, broken world, marred and buffeted by sin, we, like your people of old, have no true knowledge, understanding, or vision of "good purpose" for ourselves or for others.
For only the sovereign, omnipotent, all-wise God can perfectly direct the course of the past, present and future of this universe and all that is within in it, from beginning to end, and accomplish a flawless, purposed good.
And so You instruct us—as You instructed Your ancient people—to trust You, to obey You, to still our hearts, to quiet our minds, and to know that You are God (Psalm 46:10). And You invite us to come in prayer to Your throne of grace with confidence (boldly), so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Father, help us not to distort Your kind invitation out of deceptive pride and presumption—out of humanistic self-elevation. Nowhere have You told us to command into existence whatever we will. You alone are God—we are not. We have no "claim" on anything, except for what You graciously grant in Your kindness and mercy.
The Lord Jesus Himself submitted to Your perfect will as He prayed: “Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine” (Luke 22:42 - NLT)
Rid us of false formulas—of any warped and perverted demands that our will be done. Rid us of false doctrines that presume that our will is possible because we "speak it in faith."
Teach us the true faith that asks expectantly (Psalm 5:3)—that dares to ask for the impossible knowing that "with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26)—but that recognizes You sovereignly determine our best: Your plans stand firm forever; the purposes of Your heart through every generation (Psalm 33:11).
Your purposes prevailed in the healing of the lame beggar, in the escape of the Apostle Peter from prison, and in the resurrection of Dorcas and Eutychus from the dead. But Your purposes still prevailed in the cross of Jesus, in the thorn of Paul, in the stoning of Stephen, and in the execution of the apostle James.
You are God—Your way is perfect... Your word is flawless (Psalm 18:30). Teach us the true faith that trusts You implicitly, that humbly submits as we pray: Yet not my will but Yours be done.
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