Matthew 26:36, 38–39, 41 (CJB) “Then Yeshua went with his talmidim to a place called Gat-Sh’manim and said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.…‘My heart is so filled with sadness that I could die! Remain here and stay awake with me.’
Going on a little farther, he fell on his face, praying, ‘My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet — not what I want, but what you want!’…‘Stay awake, and pray that you will not be put to the test — the spirit indeed is eager, but human nature is weak.’”
Why did Jesus pray?
Especially here—on the eve of His arrest, betrayal, and crucifixion—why did the Son of God fall on His face in prayer? Was He praying to feel better? Was He looking for emotional relief, reassurance, or a spiritual “pick-me-up” from the Father?
Gethsemane tells us something far more demanding—and far more necessary.
Jesus prayed because obedience was costly. His heart was so filled with sorrow that He said He could die. Yet He did not escape His mission, numb His pain, or abandon His calling. Instead, He prayed until His flesh submitted to the will of God: “Not what I want, but what You want.”
This is the purpose of prayer.
Prayer is not reminding God of our problems as if He exists to fix our circumstances. Prayer is how God strengthens spiritual resolve until obedience becomes inevitable. Jesus warned His disciples to pray so they would not fall into testing, because while the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. They slept. Jesus prayed. The outcomes speak for themselves.
Jesus walked toward the cross.
Peter walked toward denial.
Peter’s failure was not a lack of sincerity—it was a lack of spiritual resolve. Sleep drained what little resolve he had, leaving his flesh in control. When pressure came, he denied rather than identified with Jesus, to his shame and heartbreak.
We often do the same.
Many Christians treat prayer as a last resort instead of a daily discipline. Some pray briefly, others begin and fall asleep, allowing the flesh to determine attitudes, decisions, and actions. We study little, pray less, and wonder why obedience feels impossible.
But prayer is meant to be our response to God’s Word. We learn God’s will in Scripture, then we pray until our hearts align with it—until our hands and feet are compelled to obey it. Prayer bends us. Prayer weakens the flesh’s resistance. Prayer strengthens resolve.
Jesus did not pray His way out of suffering—He prayed His way into obedience.
If we are going to live like Jesus in a world desperate for men who do, we must pray until God’s will becomes our sustenance. Until obedience matters more than comfort. Until God’s will on earth becomes our daily pursuit, just as it is in heaven.
Run Today’s Play: Don’t ask today, “Did I pray?”
Ask instead, “Did my praying lead me to obedience?”
Open God’s Word. Identify one clear command He is pressing on your heart—something your flesh resists. Then pray deliberately, unhurriedly, until your will yields to His. Don’t get up until obedience is settled.
Today’s win isn’t feeling spiritual.
It’s walking obedient.
