39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.[c] 45When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
This post by Bill and this scripture have my thinkin’ today. 1. Jesus’s final little episode here, I’ve often taken many things for granted. I read it in church yesterday, the pastor’s passage being nearby.
1. Jesus needed to pray for courage, and felt “weak” to do what was asked of him. He felt free to ask God for something different, but was ultimately committed to what God felt needed to be done, though it cost him much anguish and pain.
2. God sent ministering angels to strengthen Jesus.
Now…if Jesus needed strengthening angels to handle things with grace…how is it I think I’ll ever be strong enough to handle life without prayer, without asking God for strength and courage, without being totally dependant on him to follow Him? No wonder I get so disappointed in myself at times…still trying, I think, to do entirely too much without His “extras” to get me by.
posted by Maggie
I love you Maggie thanks for this post I soooo loved reading it. I am so refreshed. I have had an amazing break which has been busy and lots of stuff been in it including looking after people who are unwell etc but so much learning and so much joy in God. I love this post. Thank you. Hugs
Praying for everybody here!
Diana