Respond: Earlier in the evening, when Jesus was praying, He had been so anxious about what was going to happen, He was sweating drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Yet, here Jesus is in the beginning of his inquisition responding with such dignity, confidence and calm. He was able to set aside his own emotions for the greater cause of doing God’s will by being sacrificed for our sins. Imagine being slapped across the face by someone in front of a group of people when you had done no wrong and were totally innocent of an accusation. Jesus stays calm and authentic because He has us in mind – the hope of the world to be reconciled with God the Father and have eternal life.
Reflect on what happened in your life yesterday. How did your thoughts, feelings or words either hinder or expand the Kingdom of God? Pray about what God has in store for you in your day ahead. Be aware of your thoughts, feelings and emotions. 2 Corinthians 10:5, is a great reminder of what to do with our thought life, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Example: When you have a negative, fearful or toxic thought, instead of letting it drive your behavior, what would happen if you pray about it and take it to God? How would it change your day?