Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026: Surrendering Your Will to God's

Big Idea of the Week: 
A Greater Vision of prayer is desperately needed in my life (our lives).

Memory Verse of the Week:
Philippians 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 6:5-15
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Luke 22:39-44
“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.' And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Jesus did not merely teach His disciples to pray for God's will to be done. He lived it fully in the garden of Gethsemane, sweating drops of blood while surrendering His own desires to the Father's plan. Prayer is not the mechanism by which we pull God toward our agenda. It is the discipline by which we pull ourselves toward His. As one teacher described it, when you throw out a boat hook and catch the shore, you do not drag the shore to the boat. You draw the boat to the shore. Every time we pray "thy will be done," we are releasing our grip on outcomes and trusting the character of a God who holds our best interest in His hands.

Reflection Question:
What decision or circumstance in your life right now requires you to release your preferred outcome and genuinely surrender to God's will?

Practical Application:
Before making any significant decision this week, commit to praying about it daily for at least five days before taking action. Journal what shifts in your thinking and your peace during that time.

Song of the Day:
Hillary Scott, Hillary Scott & The Scott Family - Thy Will