Jesus at Gethsemane prayed to the Father in horrified agony and didn’t get what he asked. His reaction was to lay down his substantially strong human will that screamed, “My will be done,” in deference to the holy, “Thy will be done.” At that moment, he belonged completely to God. But, how did he get to that moment? What is the process for dying to your own will and fully embracing the will of God?
The Struggle of the Prayer of Release
How do you experience the full power of God’s will when his will is not your will? The answer: the prayer of release. It is one of the most difficult prayers you will ever pray.
The struggle against our own, substantially fierce, will is an essential part of the prayer of release.
The letting go is not a sad resignation to the inevitable, but rather a releasing with great hope for the mysterious future.
The crucifixion of the will is always followed by resurrection. God is not destroying our human will – he is transforming it.
The Five Movements to the Prayer of Release.1
1. Prayer of self-emptying.
This is the first step because only empty hands can receive the blessings of God.
2. Prayer of surrender.
There is a moment when you know intellectually that you are not going to get what you want from God. At that moment you decide to submit to God’s will. This is the moment of surrender. It is a choice you make.
3. Prayer of abandonment.
Having made the choice to surrender to God’s will, now the heart must follow. Abandonment means you have given your mind and heart-desire over to God.
4. Prayer of release.
Once you have abandoned all hope of getting your way, and have surrendered your will over to God, you can begin to feel the peace of resting in his perfect will. You are no longer responsible for the outcome. Everything is finally in God’s hands.
5. Prayer of resurrection.
You have died to self. Now God can raise you again, a new person. The irony is that this resurrection brings a euphoria unlike anything on earth. You feel absolutely invulnerable. You are in God’s hands. You are more than a conqueror. You are fearing no one. You know that nothing can separate you from the love of God. You want for nothing. What a feeling!
Before you get to resurrection you have to go through crucifixion. This makes the Prayer of Release one of the most difficult and tortuous spiritual experiences. It’s also the most rewarding.
What is your experience with the Prayer of Release?
