“And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people.  Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign previously, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; arrest Him” (Matthew 26:47-18).

The appearance of affection covers the hatred inside.  The rebellion against the Lord is strong in sinners.  Judas wanted what He wanted, but our Lord was doing what the Father wanted.  This is the human story.  We want what we want and pit ourselves against the Lord who is the Creator of all things.  We may arrest the Lord in our heart, but He is the only One who can make us free.  Submit to the Lord in all things and know true freedom.

Lord God, You are the Maker of all things.  There is such pride in me that at the least, I think myself Your partner instead of Your servant.  Slay the pride and make of me what You will.  Though I have betrayed You within the guise of following You, teach me to take up my cross and follow You.  Without You it is hopeless, but with You alone there is hope.  Grant me the assurance of hope for the things You have promised.

Lord Jesus, You went to the cross for all these things.  Guide me to be resolute in following You no matter how many like Judas I may encounter.  Take my pride from me.  You alone are the Lord of all.  Lead me to be steadfast in the truth of the salvation You have purchased through the cross.  Help me to simply and humbly be Your servant following You always in and through all things.  Amen.

“Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!” (Matthew 26:45-46)

The hour is at hand.  We all face our dark evenings when things we cannot comprehend come upon us.  Like the disciples, we are tempted to run away.  Like the disciples, even though we may betray the Lord, we can pray that His Holy Spirit will restore us to face battles yet to come.  Facing a battle will come.  Will you continue to flee or will you turn to the Lord and follow His lead?

Lord, You know where I have been and the things I have done.  You know what I need to learn how to be faithful.  With You I cannot fake it or pretend.  Lead me to learn to never fake it or pretend, but humbly walk in the truth You have revealed.  Awaken me to the truth of eternity and help me to live now in this moment in preparation of being with You forever.

Lord Jesus, You know betrayal.  I have betrayed You and You continued loving me.  Take me away from the place where I betray You so that I may be ready for every hour that comes.  You invite me into the fray of the battles of this age.  Lead me according to Your goodness and the Father’s will to do what is right and fitting in each moment You give me.  Help me to learn how to be faithful.  Amen.

“Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.  And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more” (Matthew 26:43-44).

We slumber in this age.  The warfare surrounds us and often we do not pay attention.  The wicked one seeks whom he may devour, and many around us are being devoured.  The Lord invites us into a life that is awake.  Will we slumber, or fight the urge to ignore what is around us and become involved?  Ask the Lord so that He removes the heaviness from your eyes in order  that You may be awake and join him in the battle of this age.

Thank You, Lord, that You are at the front of all of the battles that rage in our lives.  You know every circumstance and I am unable to comprehend all that You are doing.  You have given the promise that it will work together for good for all who love You.  Help me to join in and be a part of what You are doing.  Lead me out of the slumber that surrounds this life to be alert and awake to do Your will.

Lord Jesus, You must lead for You know that with heavy eyes I often do not see the truth of many situations.  Lead me through every circumstance so that I continue walking with You.  Guide me in this narrow upward journey to follow You all the days of my life.  Teach me Lord how to continuously be in prayer with You.  Help me to do what needs to be done in this life You have given me.  Amen.

“He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42).

What we experience in life often brings us to this point where there is something we would rather have taken from us.  What do we do?  Some get angry at God and walk away.  Jesus teaches us to drink the cup and submit to the Father’s will.  No, it is not easy.  This is the place where either we will trust the Lord in and through all things, or else we will not.  The Lord is Lord of all.  Will we trust Him?

Lord God Almighty, teach me to drink from the cup of suffering.  I know I will sin along the way but keep my heart from rejecting You because of my circumstances.  Lead me through every temptation so that I live the life You have given me and give thanks for the grace which is mine in You.  Where it is within Your will, keep me from suffering, but help me to accept it when it comes.  Through all things, be the One who leads me.

Lord Jesus, You suffered in ways I am unable to imagine.  Only because You are God could You do what needed to be done.  Guide me so that I humbly submit to the Father’s will.  Teach me to suffer with grace when it comes.  Teach me to comfort others with the comfort You have given me.  Through all that will come in this life, help me to live a life of faith worthy of the calling I have received from You.  Amen.

“And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?  Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:40-41).

I want to do whatever You ask of me, Lord.  How many times do we make vows only to break them.  Our salvation is based upon finishing the course.  We fail and that is why we need a Savior.  Our Savior comes and finishes for us what we cannot complete.  We have a willing spirit, but our flesh is weak.  The answer is given by Jesus.  Learn how to watch and pray so that temptation does not lead you astray.

Lord, I am often tempted in this world.  I wander hither and yon, seeking after things that do not matter, when You have already given me the best portion.  Guide me, Lord, so that I look to You, the source of my being, for all things.  I am weak, but You have conquered sin, death, and the devil with Your “weakness.”  With Your strength, keep me close to You so that I may not give in to temptation.

Lord Jesus, only by Your grace, purchased on the cross, am I able to humbly walk in this life of faith which You have given me.  Guide me so that I may resist the temptations of this world and live into the life which You have given me through faith.  May I learn to lean on You for all things knowing that, in You alone, do I have hope and an eternal future.  Guide me to live  with You Knowing that You are always present.  Amen.

“And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).

How we long for the cup of suffering to pass from us.  This world is filled with suffering, but the Lord has promised that if we hold fast and endure to the end, all things will work together for good.  Ultimately, we meet the place where our ideas surrender to the One who holds all things in His hands.  We must attain that place where we no longer live just by the Lord’s grace, but by His will in all things.

Lord, my will gets me into trouble.  Sometimes, with the most simple things, I falter and fail.  Only Your will is perfect.  Lead me in Your will to do what is right and fitting in every situation.  I cannot see into tomorrow, but all of the days before us are in Your sight.  Guide me according to Your will and keep me from living according to my will alone.  In Your hands all things have their being.  Keep me in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, You drank the cup of suffering for my sake.  Not just for my sake, but for the sake of all who believe.  You suffered for us.  Teach me how to submit in all things so that the Father’s will is the will I live.  Guide me into a life of submission so that I learn how to be obedient in all things.  By Your example, and in the grace You provide, lead me into a life that seeks Your righteousness.  Amen.

“Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me” (Matthew 26:38).

Grief is what we often experience in this world.  There are times where we would like it to be over.  Watch.  Watch with Jesus.  Sometimes we simply have to wait until what comes will come.  But we, unlike Jesus, become distracted and either take matters into our own hands or else, go off and do things we ought not do.  Learn how to wait upon the Lord, waiting for His lead and direction.

Lord, I am impatient and do not wait upon You.  You have created me and all things are in Your hands.  Guide me, Lord, so that I am in Your hands, waiting for Your direction.  Lead me not into temptation.  Keep me from wandering in this world filled with traps and deceit.  Open my eyes to understand that all things are in Your hands.  You have given me hope and promise.  Help me to focus upon these things.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for watching and waiting.  Your disciples shirked the call and I have too.  You alone have been faithful to the end.  Lead me to look to You as the One who will guide me all of the days of my life.  In Your goodness, help me to follow Your lead.  Hold me close to You so that I do not fall asleep in the mire of this world.  Keep me on the alert so that I may remain faithful.  Amen.

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed” (Matthew 26:36-37).

Grief and distress lead us.  We look around in this world and imagine what it could be.  There will be a new heaven and earth, so this world is not all  we should be thinking about.  Our Lord has called us to eternity, so we should walk in hope the path He has laid before us.  The interesting thing is that when He sets our heart on eternity, we are most useful in this world, for we invest in the business of salvation one person at a time.

Lord, help me to see through the fog of wishful thinking of this world to join with You, praying to live in the Father’s will. It is not supplications of constantly asking for things, but opening up of the mind and soul to be about Your business.  It is about calling upon the Father for all things.  We know this, for we get on a phone and call someone.  It is a conversation – two ways.  We are to call upon the Lord and be open to what He would say to us.

Lord Jesus, You have called for us to be a people who are constantly in prayer.  Help me to not wait until I want something.  Help me to be open to all that You would say to me.  Let me not sleep through this age with a limited view, but engage in continuous prayer so that I may humbly live into the life You are giving me through grace.  This world is full of grief and distress.  Help me to focus upon the promised rest of Your salvation.  Amen.

“Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” All the disciples said the same thing as well” (Matthew 26:35).

I will do this and that for You Lord.  But I will be distracted, become fearful, or get busy with other things, so maybe later.  Lord, I am not honest with myself or You.  What can I say to You who knows all things?  You must lead and I must follow.  I am where I am, but You know where You are taking me.  Ignorance is my bedfellow and arrogance is my companion.  I need to be saved from myself.

Lord, You who knows all things, guide me in the way of righteousness.  Lead me up and out of the thinking I have gained in this world to begin to learn how to think the right way about life and its circumstances.  Teach me the things I need to know.  Aid me in the way You know I need to go.  Guide me on the path of salvation so that I may humbly follow where You lead.  You have the words of everlasting life.

Guide me, Lord Jesus.  Teach me to guard my mouth so that I do not speak things that are not true.  Open my mouth so that I speak of You and the great love You have for us.  Lead me in the way You know I need to be led.  Help me to understand the truth that You have spoken and place that truth in my heart.  Through all things, lead me to learn how to be faithful to You, my Lord and God.  Amen.

“But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all fall away because of You, I will never fall away!”  Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times” (Matthew 26:33-34).

“I” will never fall away.  Yes, you will.  If we run on our own steam, it will run out and we will fail.  New Year’s resolutions anyone?  Denying the Lord is what brought the whole mess of this age.  The Lord forgives us.  That forgiveness is to truly come into humility in order to realize that we really do need to be saved each day and in many circumstances.  The Lord knows us.  He knows what we will do, who we are, and what He will make of us.

Lord of all, help me to submit to You.  I pretend in my own mind that I can do things on my own, but I cannot.  I have denied You, but now I do not want to.  Change my heart O Lord so that I see that only in You can I become whom You are making me to be.  Take away the fear of this world so that I live the life for which You are creating me.  Lead me away from what is false to what is true that I may live a true life.

Lord Jesus, so great is Your love for us all that You have taken away our sin.  I can barely begin to fathom this.  Guide me away from the things of this world that I may humbly submit to You and Your righteousness.  Lead me in the way of living this life of faith that You have given me.  Teach me how to live according to Your goodness and mercy.  Humble me so that I may be lifted by You into right living.  Amen.