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Not a Last Resort
I have a friend who admittedly struggles with being around her old friends - people who knew her long before she became a Christian. Her literal and metaphorical “going back home” poses challenges as her friends only know how to relate to her as she used to be…
For those of us who are on staff with Cumberland, Monday mornings are usually filled with a wonderful time of prayer and reading through some obscure text. Yesterday was no different; we spent quite some time gaining insight into how and why spiritual preparedness is so crucial, not as a “God, I hope this works” prayer, but actually being prepared for the spiritual side of what is going to happen.
Jesus knew this truth also as he told his disciples to pray during the night he was to be arrested. Jesus said, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” Jesus knew what anguish was to come, he knew the pain he was going to endure, he knew the pain he was going to feel as one of his own betrayed him, but he also knew of the importance of prayer in this moment. Jesus knew that what was coming was going to pose some serious spiritual pressure on his followers, and so he instructed them to PRAY. Jesus prayed as his disciples prayed.
A few weeks ago, Alan taught on how Satan was able to enter freely into and out of Judas, which lead to his slow downward spiral. The same word that is used in Luke 22:3, the Greek word for entered, is used here - “Pray that you will not fall into (or enter) into temptation.” Not so coincidently, this Mount of Olives is the exact location where Judas eventually follows through with his temptation and hands over Jesus to death.
We need to learn to pray before we enter into spiritually challenging situations, not as a last resort to help us get out of them. Just as my friend who has learned to pray against temptations BEFORE she goes home, just as we on staff have to pray extra hard for spiritual protection and preparedness, so do you in entering into any spiritual challenging situation. Pray to be prepared, and protected, not simply for rescuing or forgiveness.
amazing how this fits into our elder time of prayer and the Word last night. Thanks!!
thanks for being there last night as well. Thanks for digging in and leading. Thanks for sharing vision. thanks. thanks. thanks.
Pray in advance. Now, there’s a concept!
As I was driving home after our meeting last night I was thinking that prayer preparedness isn’t just for the struggles of life. What if we all arrived at worship on Sunday morning having already begun? Like Cam said… there’s a concept. Thanks Joe Man.
Thanks Joseph…awesome words…thanks for capturing them and challenging us to live lives marked by prayer, thereby filling ourselves with the Truth that comes from being with Him. Take care my friend.