Today’s reading is John 17:1-18:40.

“So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?’” (John 18:11).

How many times have I read Jesus’ prayer in the Garden? How many times have I noted that Jesus said, “Nevertheless, not as I will but as you will”? And yet, saying that in a prayer is altogether different than actually following through with it. Here in John 18:11 I see that Jesus meant what He prayed.

It is easy to pray that God’s will be done in my life. It is a lot harder when I face the day and find that it didn’t contain the ease I had hoped. To be sure, many days are filled with obvious blessing from God. On other days, the blessing is blurred a bit. Those are the days that I have to ask myself if I really mean it when I pray that God’s will and not mine be done.

Today, I will drink the cup the Father has given me and respond simply by doing His will.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you today?

Today’s reading is Luke 21:1-22:71.

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

For me, this should be the model prayer. I know I need to pray for my daily bread and for forgiveness, but at the heart of everything I do, I need this prayer. “Not my will but Yours be done.” I need a daily reminder that today is about God and not about me. A friend once shared a prayer he prays with me, “Lord, let me know your will for today and grant me the strength to do it.”

That’s really all I need for today. I need simply to do the next right thing. What does God want me to do next and may I surrender to God’s strength and power to accomplish it.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?