Be Aligned in Prayer

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42) 
 
Following the upper room meal, Jesus and His disciples made their way through Jerusalem’s streets. They crossed the Kidron Valley and continued on to the western-facing slope of the Mount of Olives. He was headed to Gethsemane to pray. He was planning to pray with His disciples, but that would be short lived. They would not make it very long (especially after the meal). This would be a battle (a lonely battle) where our Lord felt little support from the very men whom He had poured His life into for years. 
 
His prayer time in Gethsemane was filled with great agony. He even told His disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death…” (Matthew 26:38) They likely had never heard Him speak like this before, but it did little to bolster their prayer energy. It was an event which has never been repeated, or will ever have to be repeated by Christ. Why was He so troubled? Was He afraid of dying? Was Jesus in pain because He would be leaving His disciples? Was He fearful of torture? Not in the least to any of those answers!  
 
When Jesus took the sins of this world upon Himself, He could not be aligned with His Father. Not aligning Himself with the Father would mean broken fellowship, for the first time ever! That’s why He cried out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) Do you understand this? Jesus had always been in fellowship, sweet union with His Father. He told His disciples that He only did what He saw the Father doing. What a union! However, the cross would bring a break in that precious flow, for a moment of time. 
 
Every time I have traveled to Gethsemane, or read this account in the Word, I am brought face to face with my own insensitivity. How often are we not mindful of what God wants? When we are not sensing His voice, we act like, “It’s no big deal.” We sin and flippantly say to ourselves, “Oh, I will repent later.” We are more in touch with our flesh than we are with the Spirit of God. Even the thought of broken fellowship brought Jesus unbearable sorrow. In contrast, our friendship with our flesh whispers betrayal in today’s melodies.  
 
“Oh, Lord, forgive us for minimizing our blessed fellowship with You! Instead, help us learn to pray until we align ourselves with You and Your wonderful plan!”