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- Oct 26, 2007
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- 12,539
When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation." Luke 22:45-46 NKJV
Times of crisis can bring out the best in each of us—or they can reveal our deepest weaknesses. Jesus had given His apostles a simple command: Wait and pray while I go and pray (Luke 22:39-41). But when He returns, He finds them sleeping—certainly not praying.
You probably know the rest of the story. After Jesus is arrested, His disciples scatter. Later that evening, one even denies knowing Him!
In a moment of crisis, they failed miserably.
It’s easy to wonder how Jesus’ followers, who had spent three years seeing Him perform amazing miracles and deliver life-changing teaching, could abandon Him. But think about how you usually respond to your own crises. Yes, in such times you don’t think—at least not clearly!
There’s nothing you can do to avoid the crises. They are a part of life in this fallen world. How you prepare for those things will determine whether you stand or fall. And how do you prepare? By doing just as Jesus had commanded His friends: you pray!
Prayer: Loving Father, please energize and strengthen me when it’s time for me to seek You and bring my thanks, my requests, even my complaints to You.
Times of crisis can bring out the best in each of us—or they can reveal our deepest weaknesses. Jesus had given His apostles a simple command: Wait and pray while I go and pray (Luke 22:39-41). But when He returns, He finds them sleeping—certainly not praying.
You probably know the rest of the story. After Jesus is arrested, His disciples scatter. Later that evening, one even denies knowing Him!
In a moment of crisis, they failed miserably.
It’s easy to wonder how Jesus’ followers, who had spent three years seeing Him perform amazing miracles and deliver life-changing teaching, could abandon Him. But think about how you usually respond to your own crises. Yes, in such times you don’t think—at least not clearly!
There’s nothing you can do to avoid the crises. They are a part of life in this fallen world. How you prepare for those things will determine whether you stand or fall. And how do you prepare? By doing just as Jesus had commanded His friends: you pray!
Prayer: Loving Father, please energize and strengthen me when it’s time for me to seek You and bring my thanks, my requests, even my complaints to You.
