Luke 22:40 “When He came to the place, He said unto them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’”
Dear God,
Thank You for this new day and for ability to read Your word, pray and worship You, on this clear, cool morning. It is so sobering and uplifting to be able to read again of Jesus and the events leading up to His sacrifice upon the cross for my transgressions. Jesus was always in constant communion with God in heaven, because the Holy Spirit was within Him. As the time for His sacrificial death approached, God, His Father had revealed to Him what was ahead for Himself and for His disciples. He knew that not only was Satan orchestrating the events against Himself, The Son of God, but also against His disciples and all who loved and followed Him.
Jesus in love, suggested to His disciples that they watch and pray, so that they did not fall into the temptation Satan was about to level at them. In the garden to which Jesus had retired for serious prayer with His Father, the disciples were overcome by their tiredness and slept, and did not pray for themselves or their Master. Probably they were not as deeply aware or affected by their danger, as was their Saviour. The soul of Jesus craved their prayers and the comfort of knowing that those who loved Him were one with Him in connecting to heaven, for Him, as well as themselves.
Thank You Father, that down through the ages, You have on so many times warned those who are close to You, to call upon You for forgiveness and for protection. Jesus, in the Bible has given us an example in the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:13, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;”
Forgive me dear Jesus for when I also neglect to pray to be kept from temptation for myself and for others. Also for the times when I also sleep, literally when on my knees, or the other times when I am asleep figuratively, when I have become self-focused or go into a dream; making my prayers disconnected. I give thanks dear Jesus that You have heard my prayers and by the power of the Holy Spirit this is happening less often.
Amen