Prevailing Prayer: Luke 22:44-46
“44) And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45) When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46) and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”” Luke 22:44-46
The most intense battle of facing the cross was fought in prayer. It was there Jesus had to overcome His racing thoughts and emotions. He knew exactly what He was about to face. The inner battle was so intense, His sweat became like drops of blood.
So it is with the Christian life, the big battles are won in the prayer room. The prayer warrior knows how to pray through the inner war until a break through comes. It is in prayer that the flesh must be crucified and emotions surrendered to the will of God.
Keep in mind, Jesus was tempted in all ways like we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:14-16). At this moment, He most likely battled racing emotions and anxiety. Facing the agony of the cross ripped Him to the core. Every minute He tarried in the garden sealed His fate. But the time had come.
When He returned to His disciples, He found them “sleeping because of sorrow.” After Judas departed from the Passover meal, the upper room discourse became very blunt. (Read John 13-17)
This is when the reality of His pending doom finally settled in. According to John 14:1, their hearts had become troubled. They were moved to sorrow.
Temptations are always worse when we become emotionally unstable. Our emotions do not think logically or act predictably. They can become our worse enemy.
Jesus was admonishing them to wrestle through their sorrow by communing with God. They needed the same break through He had just achieved through prevailing prayer. Temptation was crouching before each of them.
The warning was not unlike the one given to Cain in Genesis 4:6-7. The emotion of anger had to be conquered or he would become a slave to sin. Cain failed the test. Judas was overcome by the emotion of jealousy.
There is a huge lesson in this text. Jesus conquered His emotions through prevailing prayer and gained the courage to face the cross. Many temptations, conflicts and relational disasters can be averted through prevailing prayer.
When your emotions are unstable, the Spirit is beckoning you to prayer. When anger is feeding your adrenaline, the Spirit is beckoning you to prayer. When jealousy is eating at your heart, the Spirit is beckoning you to prayer. When lust and fantasy consume you, the Spirit is beckoning you to prayer.
Those who fail to win the inner battles in the prayer room will loose the outer battles in life.
My prevailing prayer times include many techniques learned over the years to calm my racing emotions. Let me give some examples.
I pray Scripture out loud. I listen to worship music. I often play the whole book of Psalms through the night while praying in the spirit and drifting in and out of sleep. I renounce and rebuke the evil one. I consciously yield to God. I ask for fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit. I work hard at guarding my mouth when my emotions are stirred.
Sometimes I engage in extended times of fasting. I listen to audible sermons and teachings throughout my daily routine. I exercise consistently and try to eat clean foods. I prevail until anxiety is replaced and peace and clarity returns. I do not make major life decisions in times of inner turmoil.
I prevail in this fashion until a break through comes. This is typified by the overwhelming peace and presence of God. It is the tangible and awesome awareness of the holiness, glory and favor of God. It is a baptism of light, life, hope, faith and love.
In later years, I have developed a nightly ritual of ending the day focusing on God and removing worldly and carnal distractions and entertainment. They cause inner turmoil and rob communion with God. I consciously seek to abide in the light.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“44) And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45) When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46) and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”” Luke 22:44-46
The most intense battle of facing the cross was fought in prayer. It was there Jesus had to overcome His racing thoughts and emotions. He knew exactly what He was about to face. The inner battle was so intense, His sweat became like drops of blood.
So it is with the Christian life, the big battles are won in the prayer room. The prayer warrior knows how to pray through the inner war until a break through comes. It is in prayer that the flesh must be crucified and emotions surrendered to the will of God.
Keep in mind, Jesus was tempted in all ways like we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:14-16). At this moment, He most likely battled racing emotions and anxiety. Facing the agony of the cross ripped Him to the core. Every minute He tarried in the garden sealed His fate. But the time had come.
When He returned to His disciples, He found them “sleeping because of sorrow.” After Judas departed from the Passover meal, the upper room discourse became very blunt. (Read John 13-17)
This is when the reality of His pending doom finally settled in. According to John 14:1, their hearts had become troubled. They were moved to sorrow.
Temptations are always worse when we become emotionally unstable. Our emotions do not think logically or act predictably. They can become our worse enemy.
Jesus was admonishing them to wrestle through their sorrow by communing with God. They needed the same break through He had just achieved through prevailing prayer. Temptation was crouching before each of them.
The warning was not unlike the one given to Cain in Genesis 4:6-7. The emotion of anger had to be conquered or he would become a slave to sin. Cain failed the test. Judas was overcome by the emotion of jealousy.
There is a huge lesson in this text. Jesus conquered His emotions through prevailing prayer and gained the courage to face the cross. Many temptations, conflicts and relational disasters can be averted through prevailing prayer.
When your emotions are unstable, the Spirit is beckoning you to prayer. When anger is feeding your adrenaline, the Spirit is beckoning you to prayer. When jealousy is eating at your heart, the Spirit is beckoning you to prayer. When lust and fantasy consume you, the Spirit is beckoning you to prayer.
Those who fail to win the inner battles in the prayer room will loose the outer battles in life.
My prevailing prayer times include many techniques learned over the years to calm my racing emotions. Let me give some examples.
I pray Scripture out loud. I listen to worship music. I often play the whole book of Psalms through the night while praying in the spirit and drifting in and out of sleep. I renounce and rebuke the evil one. I consciously yield to God. I ask for fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit. I work hard at guarding my mouth when my emotions are stirred.
Sometimes I engage in extended times of fasting. I listen to audible sermons and teachings throughout my daily routine. I exercise consistently and try to eat clean foods. I prevail until anxiety is replaced and peace and clarity returns. I do not make major life decisions in times of inner turmoil.
I prevail in this fashion until a break through comes. This is typified by the overwhelming peace and presence of God. It is the tangible and awesome awareness of the holiness, glory and favor of God. It is a baptism of light, life, hope, faith and love.
In later years, I have developed a nightly ritual of ending the day focusing on God and removing worldly and carnal distractions and entertainment. They cause inner turmoil and rob communion with God. I consciously seek to abide in the light.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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