Luke 22:4 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
On the night before Jesus was crucified, a night so agonizing that his sweat fell like drops of blood, he prayed. He heard the hounds of hell gnashing their teeth, waiting for him to fall. And he prayed some more. Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me.
He anticipated the excruciating pain of having his hands and feet nailed to a cross. The duress of isolation, knowing his closest and dearest friends would all abandon him. The utter darkness of being tasked to carry the sin of the whole world. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.
Jesus prayed. And he told his disciples to do the same. That life-giving directive is no less powerful today than it was 2,000 years ago at Gethsemane.
So when you face temptation…. Pray.
When you just want to sleep until the trial ends…. Pray.
When intolerable pain encompasses you…. Pray.
When the burdens you carry are suffocating you…. Pray.
When the future appears so bleak you see no way out…. Pray.
When you don’t understand why…. Pray.
And when you don’t think you’re getting through…. Pray some more.
As long as we live, there will never be a time when we don’t need God. We express that need through prayer. It’s more than good vibes and good thoughts. Prayer has the power to heal, to deliver, to sustain, to help us resist temptation. Our prayers are powerful and effective (James 5:16). No wonder! They connect us with the utmost force in the universe.
This Easter season, as we contemplate the death and resurrection of Jesus, let’s pause a few minutes and be grateful for how his sacrifice made it possible for us to experience a full, accessible connection to God. Through prayer.
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