Take This Cup

PAUSE

As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to recenter my scattered senses upon the presence of God.

(pause)

I pray Psalm 13:1–2, repeating the words slowly, several times:

“How long, LORD? Will you forget me for ever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?”

REFLECT

Bible: As we continue to explore Christ’s prayer in Gethsemane, today we consider its five most shocking words:

“Going a little farther, [Jesus] fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me . . .’ ” (Mark 14:35–36, emphasis added)

Comment: Thus far, Jesus has been following the pattern of His own “Lord’s Prayer,” saying “Abba, Father” instead of “Our Father,” and “everything is possible for you” instead of “hallowed be your name,” but now, at the point where He’s meant to pray “Your kingdom come,” He says the exact opposite: “Take this cup from me.” He is going off script, admitting to the Father: “I don’t want to suffer. I’m scared. There has to be another way!” If Jesus can be so honest with God in His hour of greatest need, then surely so can we?

ASK

Ask myself: In what ways do I pretend when I pray? Are there any “tricks” I use to try to avoid or persuade God?

Ask the Lord: I take a little time now to speak to the Father honestly from my heart about what I’m really feeling and thinking, remembering that He loves me, values my honesty, and is never shocked.

YIELD

A prayer of surrender by Richard Foster:

Today, O Lord, I yield myself to You. May Your will be my delight today. May You have perfect sway in me. May your love be the pattern of my living. I surrender to You my hopes, my dreams, my ambitions. Do with them what You will, when You will, as You will. I place into Your loving care my family, my friends, my future. Care for them with a care that I can never give. I release into Your hands my need to control, my craving for status, my fear of obscurity. Eradicate the evil, purify the good, and establish Your kingdom on earth. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.^*