Daily Devotions

I can do nothing on my own. I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.”

(John 5:30)

As I sit with these words from Jesus, I hear more than a statement of humility—I hear a call to alignment. Jesus, the Son of God, fully divine and without flaw, chose not to act independently but lived in total surrender to the Father’s will. If He, in all wisdom and authority, said, “I can do nothing on My own,” how much more must I learn to live from that same posture of dependence?

This verse challenges the myth of self-sufficiency. Left to my own will—my assumptions, ambitions, and judgments—I often drift toward confusion or pride. But Jesus shows a different way: a life not fueled by striving, but shaped by listening; not driven by personal agenda, but anchored in communion with God.

Jesus didn’t relate to the Father from a distance. He knew Him deeply—as a Son knows a loving, trustworthy Parent. And that closeness becomes an invitation for me. I’m reminded of the people in my life whose love has reflected even a glimpse of that kind of trust. Their care teaches me how to rest—how to stop performing and start abiding.

What would change if I truly believed I didn’t have to figure everything out on my own? If I lived each day not just asking God for direction, but walking with Him—moment by moment, thought by thought, breath by breath?

Jesus’ unity with the Father wasn’t just a theological concept—it was the way He lived. Their wills were not in competition; they were one. And now, Jesus draws me into that same unity. He doesn’t just send me out—He goes with me. My life is no longer mine alone. What I do to others, I do to Him. What I do with Him becomes an offering of love.

There’s no room for half-surrender. His will isn’t a helpful suggestion—it’s the only path to life.

Prayer:
Father, thank You for Jesus, who showed us what it means to live fully surrendered to You. Teach me to lay down my need for control and to trust in Your perfect will. Help me to quiet my heart, to listen as Jesus listened, and to walk in step with You. May I learn to say each day—not with fear, but with freedom—“Not my will, but Yours be done.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.