Memorize: “ And When He was at the place, He said unto them, “Pray that ye enter not into temptation.” Luke 22:40.
Devotional Reading: Luke 22; 39-48
Many people are sleeping today at the hour, time and place when they ought to be praying thereby opening doors of temptations and allowing intrusion of the enemy, some had lost crucial battle that should have been won because they failed to pray at the hour and place of prayer. This was the case with the disciples of Jesus when they went to the mount of Olives.They were sleeping at the hour and place that they ought to be praying.
And said unto them, why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation; Luke 22:46
The apostle Paul used the armor of a Roman soldier as a metaphor for the believer’s spiritual armor: belt, helmet, breastplate, sword, shoes, and shield.
But Paul added, something to the Christian’s preparation for spiritual battle “praying always” and in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints–” Eph. 6:18.
There is a place of Faith, a place of Hope, a place of Love – which is charity, a place of Courage, but there is a place of Prayer. Each of these places cannot replace the other.
It is good to pray and without ceasing, many Christians today have become lazy in prayer, they would rather sing and dance for many hours than pray for just 1 hour, that prayer language mirrors what Jesus said to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His arrest and trial. Jesus had just warned Peter about the coming temptation to deny Him, Luke 22:31-34, and the disciples about the opposition they would face vs. 35-38.
As the hour of His trial grew near, Jesus admonished the disciples twice to pray lest they succumb to the temptations to deny Him and flee from persecution.
Many people wait until they are in a battle before committing themselves seriously to prayer, this is unwise and a very poor spiritual strategy.
Waiting until the battle is joined is waiting too late to fight. Fighting begins on our knees every moment as we call upon God for victory over challenges of life and enemy attacks;
I pray that the LORD will give you the the right place to exercise spiritual strength and develop a prevailing appetite for prayer and not to faint in the name of Jesus.
The soul that would live close to Jesus, is the one that would spend much time in prayer. May the LORD help you to prevail as you pray.
Prayer point: O LORD, please give me divine strength until I pray my way to victory in Jesus name.
Key Dose: If Jesus can start his earthly ministry and end it with prayer, then there is something very special about prayer, find a place to pray.
Pastor James Ademuyiwa
Senior pastor IHPCT
