Day 15 — “Not My Will”

Luke 22:42 (ESV)

42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Devotional Thought:

As we enter the final week of prayer and fasting, the Lord begins to address the deepest resistance to obedience — the pride of life. This is not just about arrogance or outward pride. It is about self-reliance, control, and the desire to shape life on our own terms.

Jesus gives us the clearest picture of surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane. In a moment of intense pressure, He prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done.” This was not weakness — it was perfect submission. It was the Son aligning Himself fully with the Father’s purpose.

The pride of life says, “I want my way.”
Surrender says, “I want God’s way.”

So often, we trust God with our salvation but struggle to trust Him with our decisions, timing, and future. We want His blessing without His control. But true obedience begins when we release our need to be in charge.

Fasting humbles us. It reminds us that we are not self-sustaining and not self-governing. It brings us face to face with our dependence on God and our need for His direction.

Today, we begin this final week by choosing surrender over control and humility over self-will.

Prayer Focus:

• Ask the Lord to reveal areas where you have insisted on your own way

• Pray for a heart that trusts God’s will even when it’s uncomfortable

• Surrender control over decisions, timing, and outcomes

• Ask God to form humility and obedience in your life

Prayer:

“Father, I surrender my will to You today. Teach me to trust Your purposes more than my preferences. Break the pride of life in me and form a humble, obedient heart. I choose Your will over my own. Lead me in Your ways. Amen.”