Prayer

Scripture:  Mark 14:38: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.  The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Observations:  Psalm 43 asks for God to fight our battle. “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me.” (v.3) It ends with a great suggestion: “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”  In Deuteronomy 5 we are given the 10 commandments.  This is embarrassing, but I can never get them in order.   Maybe that is because I didn’t learn them early in life.  They still stand as commands we must follow!.  In chapter 6 we are given the

ORIGINAL greatest Commandment in the Shema which is still spoken in Jewish homes every day.  Maybe if we spoke it in American homes daily there would be less unrest in this country. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God the Lord is one.  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Duet 6:4)  Moses reminded the Israelites to remember all that God had done for them and to fear the LORD.  In Mark we read that the chief priests and scribes started looking for ways to kill Jesus, and unfortunately Judas Iscariot plotted with them.  A woman came into Simon’s house where Jesus was eating and anointed Jesus’ for ‘burial’.  Again, Jesus warned of his death.  Why were the disciples so slow to understand?  Jesus and his disciples celebrated the ultimate Passover meal. He told Peter that he would soon deny him.  After the meal they went to Gethsemane for prayer. Jesus was arrested and taken before the council of the high priest. Peter fulfilled the prophecy and denied Jesus.

Application:   Jesus has warned several times in the book of Mark to be on guard and watch.  Yet, when the time of trouble comes, the disciples are sleeping.  There is a warning for us here.  Paul tells us to pray unceasingly.  Jesus went to solitude places to pray.  If the Son of God needed to pray, how much more must we be in constant prayer?

Prayer:  Lord, my flesh is weak.  I sometimes don’t have the energy or words to pray.  Thank you for sending your Spirit who prays for us in those times.  May he encourage us when we are tired, not to forsake prayer.   Thank you for this opportunity to be heard.   Thank you for hearing our prayers and thank you for answering our prayers. "What a privelege to carry everything to God in prayer".  Don’t allow us to take it lightly. ​

Tomorrow’s Reading  Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 15