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.
• • •
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 just. Share on XP.S. I’m linking up this week with Senior Salon Pitstop, InstaEncouragements and Let’s Have Coffee.