Matthew 26 :40 "Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. ...”
Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane facing His toughest trial. As He often did, He went off to pray, and this time He asked His friends for help.
They failed. They didn't take the job seriously, fell asleep, and left Jesus to fight alone.
How many times have you said "I'm praying for you" and figuratively gone to sleep in the garden?
This happens because our opinion of prayer has been watered down. None of us would fall asleep performing physical CPR, yet we drift off in the midst of far more critical spiritual work.
We must upgrade our view of intercession. As Christians, we should never say "All we can do is pray". It is the equivalent of a General saying "all we can do is drop a Nuclear weapon". It shows that we don't understanding the power of prayer.
The ability to communicate with God is an amazing and expensive gift. "...The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."(James 5:16) Never discount the importance, or potency of talking to your Creator.
Let's change our tone when we say "I will pray for you". It should not be a last ditch effort, or some sympathetic consolation prize. It is a battle cry that should shake the gates of hell with dread, and the realization that a fight is coming.
The veil has been torn and we have complete access to the King...let's use it.
Imagine the strength we would have in our lives if we "prayed without ceasing" (1 Thes 5:16) and fully utilized the power made available to us as children of God?
“I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach"
- Charles Spurgeon
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