By Sidharth Mohandas
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives and his disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” [Luke 22:39-46]
Many Christians in our day are in the motions of prayer. They write books and books on the posture of prayer, on methods to pray, on the tone of prayer, on types of prayers and so forth… Like the disciples they follow the Lord to the place of prayer, but when it comes to praying…when it comes to actually moving in the realm of the spirit in prayer, they’re sleeping. Oh they can really put on a show before others; they can pray well-phrased prayers, and be so spiritual before men that even God would be surprised to find them talk like that to Him!
The Lord asked me today to present the same question He asked His disciples: “Why are you sleeping?”. If you’re listening to the Spirit, I know this question has penetrated into your spirit.
How many times have we told someone we’d pray for them and then forgot to pray for them? Now, I’m not asking you to write down methods to remind yourself to pray for them. A lot of time is wasted like that. It doesn’t matter what method you use, PRAY!
Remember, my friends, the moment you pray in the name of Jesus the spiritual realm gets activated, ministering angels get active to enforce God’s will into the physical. PRAY!
Sounds more like me that I’m wanting to admit, but it’s such a true post! I forget a lot to pray for those I tell I’ll pray for. I don’t always feel genuine praying for others, at least not in front of others. But I think I’ll make for of an effort in the future.
I want to add to this wonderful reminder. This post should help to put us into action. I have to remind myself that my prayer is not about me – IN ANY WAY – but about God. It is not whether I am worthy enough to pray, or genuine enough, or wise enough, it is about the fact that I should be obedient enough to participate in life with my Loving Father. Pray, trust, and be in awe of what He does with your offering!
great post!
I have been taught that we pray all the time. Whether we know it or not, God hears every thought and every feeling. Every time we are moved to compassion by someone else’s plight or peril, He hears it and because God is love, He really caused us to be moved in the first place. We only had to allow ourselves to be moved to bring about our prayer. We just have to be conscious that there is our prayer already. That our souls were moved by LOVE. I feel that is a great freedom.
so true.my friend once told me..When you tell someone taht you wud pray for them..do it then itself..dont wait for you to get to that \position\ or \place\ to pray..do it then and der..and i shud ask myself \why am i sleeping?\