Mark 14:35-38, “He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

We learn so much about prayer and submission through the wonderful example of Jesus.

Just the very fact that He earnestly brought His burden to the Father is a lesson in-and-of itself. How much toil and needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry all to God in prayer!

As Jesus prayed He brought His request (that the cup would pass), but He also brought a heart that was bound to do His Father’s will (such a beautiful balance between James 4:2b and 1 John 5:14 – look it up later). After 27 years of Christian life, this is finally beginning to sink in – God’s will is infinitely better than mine. We should always tag our prayer with that genuine request to God, “…nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

And then there are those guys we identify all to well with, the motley crew of disciples. Sleeping when they should have been praying. Have you ever done that? Jesus tells us why, “…the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The inner man longs to pray, even loves to pray, but the sinful nature within us, despises prayer, even hates to pray.

Let me encourage you to go to the “Garden,” stay awake and spend time in prayer; the devil is on his way, and trust me, you will need the help of no one less than God Almighty.