Inside: Vocalizing this petition helps us relinquish worry and hold our desires loosely. Over time, this can grow our faith and change our hearts. ~
Our church recently went through a sermon series called “Dangerous Prayers.” The messages focused on biblical petitions such as “search me” (Psalm 139), “lead me” (Psalm 23) and “teach me” (Psalm 25), among others.
According to the pastor, these prayers aren’t “dangerous” because they put us in harm’s way. Rather, they fit that description because if we pray them, they have the power to transform our lives.
As I reflect on my own personal history, another biblical plea comes to mind that has transformed my life—and is still working on me today: “Not my will, but yours be done (Luke 22:42).”
A Heart-Changing Phrase
This prayer, which Jesus famously prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to his arrest and crucifixion, became a lifeline when Randy and I were experiencing infertility. In the decades since then, it’s helped me hold my desires loosely and relinquish my worries as I’ve prayed about employment issues, house hunts, health crises, heartaches, loved ones going through major transitions and much more.
If the last few years have taught me anything, it’s that that our sovereign God’s plans are often very different from ours. I don’t understand His ways, but I do believe that they are perfect and good. And though I still express my hopes and deep concerns in prayer, I find myself getting to “not my will, but yours be done” more quickly—and more frequently—than I used to.
(By the way, the phrase “Thy will be done” from the Lord’s prayer, which Mitford author Jan Karon calls “the prayer that never fails,” serves the same purpose.)
A Continual Lifeline
As you may know if you’ve been reading my words for a while, I type my daily prayers, mostly because it helps me concentrate. I rarely go back and read my prayer journal. But having this electronic record is useful when I want to find out when something specific happened. Or, in this case, how many times I prayed something specific.
I searched the file that contains my prayer journal from 12-month period beginning May 27, 2025, for some variation of “not my will, but yours be done,” and here’s what I discovered. During a year marked by unexpected challenges, disrupted routines, recovery and change, I repeated this plea 1,083 times.
Over and over, these words helped me surrender my hopes, dreams, expectations and plans—for myself and for my loved ones—to the One who holds all the days of all our lives in His loving hands. Time and again, they calmed my anxious heart, eased my fears and ushered me through the doorway of peace.
After all these years, this “dangerous prayer” remains my lifeline. And I’m so thankful.
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Is there a particular prayer that has transformed your life? Please share in the comments.
♥ Lois
If the last few years have taught me anything, it’s that that our sovereign God’s plans are often very different from ours. Share on X I don’t understand God's ways, but I do believe that they are perfect and good. Share on XP.S. I’m linking up this week with Senior Salon Pitstop, InstaEncouragements and Let’s Have Coffee.
14 comments
Personally, I am just beginning to realize how daily prayer is so important. Prior, it was an unconscious habit. I am also, by choice, an optimistic person. Each day is God given. Lately, I have been blessed to witness the unexpected beauty and embrace the obvious (sunrise and sunsets as examples). I hope this makes sense. Quoting verses is not easy for me. I have never read the Bible from front cover to end, let alone memorizing. Working in it now!!
Have a blessed week.
All the best.
Debra @ Life Captured
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective on this, Debra. I’ve always been an optimistic person too, although this year has given me more opportunities to have to choose to be that way! Amen to the fact that each day is God-given! I’m glad you’ve been blessed by sunrises and sunsets lately … God’s creation is breathtaking, isn’t it?
I remember learning years ago about the way this prayer shaped your infertility journey—and I adopted it then! Thank you, friend. This prayer continues to be one the Lord uses to transform me and my life, too. (And love the Jan Karon mention!)
Oh Bethany … The prayer that never fails also never stops working on our hearts, does it? I’m so grateful for that, as I know you are too!
To be honest, sometimes I wince a little when praying that prayer. Sometimes God’s will is hard and costly. But ultimately it is best. I’ve often been comforted by Lamentations 3:32-33: “Though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.” The CSB translates verse 33 as “For he does not enjoy bringing affliction or suffering on mankind.” That reminds me that when He does allow difficult things, He has a purpose in them, even though I may never know what that purpose is on this side of heaven. And He promises “grace to help in time of need.”
I’ve been doing a study with a friend on the attributes of God. Truly, the more we meditate on Him, the more our concerns melt away in trust in light of His goodness and power and wisdom.
Barbara, that is such a comforting perspective about meditating on God’s attributes. And thank you for sharing your thoughts about Lamentations 3:32-33. Also very comforting … and helpful too.
It’s the prayer that changes us. I may not understand God’s ways, or understand why, but I can trust that He knows best and does what is ultimately for my good.
I agree 100 percent, Joanne. There’s so much comfort in that, isn’t there? ❤️
Even in the midst of our earthly struggles and uncertainty, God finds a way to leave little treasures of hope, inspiration and guidance for us. We only need to trust and surrender to Him and over and over again I’m reminded of that. What a gift! Thanks for the reminder this morning!
Amen, Laura. It’s a daily surrender, isn’t it? Or maybe hour-by-hour? Good to hear from you this week!
The prayer that never fails!
I remember reading that and loving it. Thanks for this beautiful truth!
It’s such a comforting description, isn’t it? ❤️
Oh Lois, this really touches my heart. It can be so hard to surrender our will to His. My heart gets so heavy sometimes over each of my loved ones with such a deep desire that God will be their priority in life and they will have a personal relationship with Jesus. But yes, when we can surrender our wills to His, in respect to this world, our loved ones, and our own struggles, our anxious hearts can be calmed. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours and someday we will see the bigger picture in His all-wise plan, right? Love and blessings of peace in the midst of all your struggles!
“Someday we will see the bigger picture in His all-wise plan.” Yes and amen, Trudy. I’m so glad this post touched your heart. I understand your desire for your loved ones to make God first priority in their lives; I have the same desire for mine. Love and hugs to you, dear friend.