Devotionals

Not My Will

by Leona Mingo
09/17/26
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“Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow You now. I will lay down my life for Your sake.’

Jesus answered him, ‘ Will you lay down your life for My sake. Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.’ ” John 13:37,38

Peter meant what he said but Peter didn’t have a full comprehension of how strong was the push for his self-preservation. Man seeks to to preserve the body at all costs and also seeks to preserve the self-life within him even when it is contrary to the life desired for him by the Lord.

Peter had good intentions but these intentions, however well-meaning, were over- ridden by his humanity.

In the garden Jesus’ humanity wept and asked that the “cup” of the hour be removed, but that humanity (seeking self-preservation) was over-ridden when He uttered, “Not My will, but Your will be done” to the Father. This is the ongoing battle that every child of God faces...the giving up of the self-life in order to state with strength, “Not my will but Your will be done.”