Luke 22:39-46 The Passion Translation (TPT)
There is so much to learn from the life of Jesus and how he chose to relate to Father God. Jesus is the perfect role model to teach us how to present a life to God that is pleasing. For example, Jesus prayed from the posture of a trusting Child openly conversing with his loving Father. Jesus took time to get alone to pray each time life presented new challenges; he was fully present with the Father and very specific with his needs. He knew the necessity of getting alone with the Father, so he better understood his path. When we are alone with God we, too, can get very specific; very real and sincere.
In our passage today, Jesus asks his disciples to pray so they will not yield to the temptation to abandon their faith; a temptation they would soon be facing. He asks us to do the same, because we are also faced with the temptations of this world; the enemy puts pressure on us to cause us to step away from our faith and trust in God’s plan for our lives. Jesus prayed for the will of God to be done on earth; for God’s Kingdom to come. It is important for us to place our faith in the Lord, but we should also be willing to learn to model the faith of Jesus. Take some time today and focus on your conversation with Father God; be sincere and faith-filled as you trust him with your life and his plan for you in the Kingdom.
Luke 22:39-46 The Garden of Gethsemane
39 Jesus left the upper room with his disciples and, as was his habit, went to the Mount of Olives, his place of secret prayer. 40 There he told the apostles, “Keep praying for strength to be spared from the severe test of your faith that is about to come.”
41 Then he withdrew from them a short distance to be alone. Kneeling down, he prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup of agony away from me. But no matter what, your will must be mine.”d
43 Jesus called for an angel of glory to strengthen him, and the angel appeared. 44 He prayed even more passionately, like one being sacrificed, until he was in such intense agony of spirit that his sweat became drops of blood, dripping onto the ground.
45 When Jesus finished praying, he got up and went to his disciples and found them all asleep, for they were exhausted and overwhelmed with sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “You need to be alert and pray for the strength to endure the great temptation.”
Prayer: Lord, I know prayer is conversation with you and it is essential for me to make time to share and listen. Thank you for the times when I can get alone with you and share my heart. Thank you for affirming my life and planning a glorious future for me in your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.