Get Up and Pray - Lent 2020
“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them.
“Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Luke 22: 46
How many times have we fallen into temptation? Jesus said, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
If we are honest with ourselves, how many times have we fallen asleep before we prayed? You crawl into bed with good intentions, but before you get very far, you are snoring. Or how often does your prayer time end up being create-the-day’s-to-do-list time? Have you ever been guilty of telling someone you would pray for them and you forget to pray for them? (I know I’m guilty of that from time to time!)
Earlier in this chapter, as Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, he says, “Take this temptation from me, yet not my will, but your will be done.”
Jesus is praying for help to deal with temptation. If Jesus is doing it, it’s probably a good idea, and we should follow his lead. Likewise, we should be praying for God’s will, not our own.
Jesus says, “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
This is a command, followed by a promise. Get up and pray, and in doing so you will not fall into temptation.
Let us follow the command of Jesus, rely on his promises, and, with the Holy Spirit in us, let us do the will of the Father!
Lord, help us to obey - to get up, wake up, and pray. We know you will not lead us into temptation but into your grace. Thank you for this season of Lent where we can refocus on my time with you. Amen.