Recently while in Israel, I had the opportunity with Starla and a group from our church to visit the Garden of Gethsemane. This is the garden where Jesus prayed, the night before he was betrayed, arrested and crucified. The word Gethsemane means “Oil press.” The meaning indicates, that in order for the oil to be extracted from the olives, they had to go through a process of pressing. This is what Jesus was experiencing in the Garden as He was pressed. His will was pressed in order to come to the place to say, “Not my will but thy will be done.”
The Bible says that He sweat drops of blood. The inner struggle of letting go of His will was so stressful that it actually caused him to sweat blood. (That’s a struggle!)
I know the struggle of having my will pressed out of me. My Mom and Dad tried to press my will out of me a few times. (ouch!) My grandparents tried to press my will out of me a few times. My youth Pastor tried to press my will out of me. But ultimately there is nothing like God putting you in the oil press of His grip. He will press you until you are able and willing to say, “Not my will, but your will be done.” And only then will find the joy of letting go. The word of the day is let go. Let go of your will, in order to find God’s perfect will. It will make your day better.
Luke 22:42 (NIV) “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”