Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane - 28th day in the lent

We are learning few lessons from Jesus’ prayer in the Garden. He took all the 11 with him to the garden, but to the inner circle of his prayer life.Jesus took Peter, James and John. ,No prayer no success. No pain, no gain. We have to follow in His steps to be like him. A very close relationship with the Lord helps us to grow in Him.
Let us imagine the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane...

'And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he
said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,
saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”  And there appeared to him an angel
from heaven, strengthening him.' Luke 22:39-43

1.Place of prayer:
Learning from Jesus 

a)  Alone with the Lord
    Jesus had the custom to pray alone with the Lord.
    Let us prepare ourselves to spend time with our Lord at early morning before getting disturbed with other activities.
b) Humbleness
     'And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed..' Matth 26:39
     Let us kneel before our Lord if possible. Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.
c) Calling the Lord with confidence
    Jesus in his prayer saying ," My Father....." 
    Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." Gal 4:6
    Let us pray to the Lord with faith and confidence.
d) Real expressions
    '..his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground' Luke 22:44
    Let us share our feelings, agony, tears, joy to our listening Father, Jesus in our prayer..
 d) Full surrender
    Jesus submitted to do His Father's will saying,"My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matth 26:39
    Let us also surrender and obey to His will in our life. 
 
 2.Persistent in prayer:
   Jesus said that we ought to pray and not to lose heart. Luke 18:1
   Paul says, “Be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
   Peter says , “Be sober minded for the sake of prayers.” I Peter 4:7

Learning these from the disciples:
'.. And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?' Matth 26:40
Hindrances for our prayer:

• sleepy during prayer time - We must give up these to gain the relationship with our Lord
• worries, anxieties - These exaggerates the problem. We end with fear and sadness instead of  talking with our Father.
• unwanted thoughts - We have to focus only on Jesus. 
• outside disturbances (phone ringing, smart phones and the sound it makes) - Let us avoid these disturbances during our prayer times.

3.Purpose of prayer:
a) First the Lord wanted His inner circle disciples to share His burden.
   Are we in that inner circle having relationship with God?
   Are we praying with a real burden for those who shared their burdens with us?
b)After seeing those sleeping even after the third time of warning, Jesus asked them to pray that they may not enter into temptation.
   'But the one who endures to the end will be saved' Matth 24:13

Memory Verses:
      Matthew 26:40, 41
And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Shared by: Sis. Lalitha Samraj
3-21-2015