Day 12. May Your Will Be Done

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"O My Father, if it is possible — may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will — but as you will." Matthew 26:39

Among other lessons which we learn from our Lord's prayer in Gethsemane is this: that all our crying to God — should close in acquiescence to the Divine will. It is right to pleadearnestly for what we want — earnestly — but never unsubmissively. We should recognize the fact that our Father has a plan for our lives, and that what we crave, may not be in accordance with His plan. We should never want, therefore, to press our will against God's will.

There was an ignorant man who wished to pray — but did not know what he needed. Taking the letters of the alphabet, he laid them down and said: "Lord, I do not know what I need, or ought to ask for. Do take these letters and arrange them into the prayer I ought to make, and give me that."

The best thing possible for us, is always what God wills for us. Sometimes it may be pain or worldly loss or sore bereavement; yet His will is always love, and in simple acquiescence to this will, we shall always find our highest good. No prayer, therefore, is pleasing to God — which does not end with this refrain of Gethsemane. This is the way also to peace: as we yield with love and joy, and merge our own will in our Father's, the peace of God flows like a river into our souls.

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