I've been learning some things about prayer that I believe will be an encouragement. Below is the passage where Jesus agonizes in the Garden. Luke 22:39-46 says, 22:39 And he came out, and went, as his custom was, unto the mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him. 22:40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 22:41 And he was parted from them about a stone's cast; and he kneeled down and prayed, 22:42 saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 22:43 And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. 22:45 And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow, 22:46 and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. There are two things in this passage of scripture that is changing my prayer life. First, Jesus told the disciples, "Pray that you will not give in to temptation." I know He said this to His disciples, but Jesus also went to pray immediately after He said this. I believe Jesus was sharing with His disciples not only what they needed to do, but why He was there at that time to pray. His prayer was, "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine." Jesus knew the plan of God for His life, but His flesh was struggling with it at the time. Some of you are probably thinking, 'Jesus was ready and willing to die on the cross. How can you say that Jesus Christ struggled with that?' Well Hebrews 4:15 says,
4:15 For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as `we are, yet' without sin. Jesus' flesh struggled with the fact that He was going to die on the cross, but it was through prayer that He did not give in to that temptation. Rather, it was through prayer that He was strengthened to overcome that temptation; and therefore, submitted to the plan of God for His life. That's the second thing that's changing my prayer life...the fact that Jesus was strengthened by an angel. He was battling between his will and God's will (remember He said, "Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine.") and the angel came to strengthen Him immediately after He prayed this to help Him to do God's plan. You know, angels are not only for Jesus but for us, too. They are to help minister to us. Hebrews 1:14 says,
1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation? If angels are here to do service for me, I believe a part of that service is to strengthen me in my prayer time just like they strengthened Jesus during His prayer time. These things about prayer are helping me run to pray. If it's through prayer that I get strength to overcome temptation, then I'm going to pray, pray, pray! If Jesus needed to do this, then most certainly I need to do this. And let me tell you, I already have first hand knowledge that this works. I shared with my church family last night how I was tempted to get mad at my husband about something that I knew I was supposed to submit to him about. I know now that it was because of prayer that I was able to resist that temptation of getting mad; and instead, get in line with God's order of doing things and submit to my husband. It was because of prayer and that strength that we get in prayer that I was able to have the strength to do what was right! Philippians 4:13 says, 4:13 I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me. So, if there is a temptation in your life that you keep giving in to (we call that sin), you need to pray! That is the only place where you are going to get strength to overcome that nasty thing. And isn't it natural (carnal) to run away from prayer when we sin? I think we call that guilt. Do you see the trap from the devil? Our only answer to overcome that sin is prayer, and it's the very thing that we run away from. Resist guilt and pray! It's the answer! If it worked for Jesus, it'll work for us. He was showing us how it works. We need to follow the pattern God has given. We need to stick with the plan! |
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