Jesus spoke these words on the night of his betrayal, mere hours before his crucifixion.  We know that He was "exceedingly sorrowful" but did He really wish not to have to "drink" of that "cup"?  Wasn't all of this the very purpose of his birth and his life? ["To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world..." John 18:37]  And didn't He foretell early in His ministry that this would be His end? ["...even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:14,15   See also chp 2 verses 19-22]

So, what was this request about, over which He prayed so "earnestly (that)...his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44)   Among other things, I believe that it was the clearest evidence of His incarnation [God "fused" with man - that He was true humanity as well as divinity), and the perfect demonstration of a truth about all of us that he would, just moments later, speak to Peter, "...the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)

That is the nature of this flesh, our "earthly house", [2Cor 5:1] wherein we happen to live a little while yet.  And, for this reason, we are instructed in Colossians 3:5 to "Mortify [put to death, subdue] therefore your members [physical self] which are upon the earth..."  This is done by setting "...your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (v.2,3)  This passage also points out that "covetousness, which is idolatry" [v.5, the dissatisfaction with what God has given us; desiring, instead,what others have] is one of the things for which "the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience." (v.5,6).  We are then told that the only way to control these passions is to "...put off the old man with his deeds." (v.9)

What is to be "put on" is the "new man...renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (v.10)  This new man is characterized by "mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another..." (v.12,13)  This selfless, surrendered, and sold-out life is one that without hesitation can readily say, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Mat 6:10)  It is not easy, but it is essential!

Therefore, so that God's will may prevail in our lives, especially over the many desires of the flesh, the Apostle Paul says, "Present your bodies as living sacrifices...and be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Rom 12:1,2) This is the opposite of being "...conformed to this world", and necessary to "...prove [find out] what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." (v.2b)  Do you want to know God's will?  And be able to do it?  Then you have to change the way you think about the world, about yourself, and about serving God!

It is obvious that we need to avoid entanglement with this world [see Luke 8:7,14 and 2Tim 2:4] The best way is to have Paul's attitude - "the world is crucified unto me" (Gal 6:14).  But he also had to keep his own self in perspective to the world and his calling in God ["I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me"- Gal 2:20, and "...ye are not your own...ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" - 1Cor 6:19,20]

Having these scriptures in mind we can sum up our whole responsibility to God in this lifetime with the scripture Romans 6:18 - "Being then made free from sin [we become] the servants of righteousness" [Read also v.19!!]  Chapter 12 verse 1 says that such is our "reasonable service." To do whatever we are told, whatever the cost, is exactly what Jesus did for us ("He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."- Phil 2:8)  This is what our relationship with God is to be! ("Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus"- v.5)