Introduction: I visited a lady who was dying and she knew it. After being told by the doctors that there was nothing else they could do, she was overwhelmed with fear. Unable to come to peace, she expressed to me when I visited her, that she was terrified with anxiety. At that moment our Lord impressed upon my heart to ask her if she had ever prayed this prayer, “Not my will, but thine, oh Lord!” Honestly, acknowledging she had not, she prayed out loud right then and there, “Not my will, but yours Lord Jesus be done.” Immediately, a sense of peace and tranquility came over her face. She relaxed and took a deep breath. The next day while visiting, I asked her if she was afraid of dying. She smiled and said, “Not my will but His will.” The next day she was with Jesus in heaven. I stood around the bedside with her husband of over 50 years. We cried but rejoiced. She made it to her new home – in heaven with Jesus.

1. If you pray it and mean it, it will relieve you from trying to be in control! (Luke 22:42)

“42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

2. If you pray it and mean it, this will release you from things you cannot control! (Luke 22:39-43)

“And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”

3. If you pray it and mean it, it will help you resolve that God is in control! (Luke 22:44-46)

“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

Conclusion: I shared that account of the Christian lady mentioned earlier with another Christian lady who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Sensing her time was coming to an end, she too prayed… “Not my will, but your will be done.”

Will you pray that now? “Not my will Lord Jesus but your will be done”!