Today’s Devotion
Topic: Angels Will Strengthen You!
Text: Luke 22: 40 – 46
40 On reaching the place, He said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Amen
It is universally acceptable that prayer needs not always be loud and dramatic, but sincere, heartfelt, genuine, earnest and possibly fervent. Our entire approach and attitude towards God in prayer is as important as the petitions we raise, and the faith with which we claim answers to those petitions.
Now, many would agree that the times we need to pray most are the very times we feel lazy or weak to pray. Often we feel so overwhelmed by the pending challenges such that we automatically become spiritually drained and demotivated to pray. THE TRUTH HOWEVER IS: THOSE ARE THE TIMES WE NEED TO PRAY MOST.
Not praying makes us unprepared to withstand the fiery darts of the enemy. It also makes us spiritually weak to bear the deep things of God coming our way during our crises. Lastly, it impedes our spiritual sensitivity and makes it difficult to discern between what is of God and what isn’t.
For this reason, when Jesus felt overwhelmed, He prayed. He moved away from everyone and everything and prayed. As He prayed, AN ANGEL CAME TO STRENGTHEN HIM. THE TOUCH OF THE ANGEL WAS TO EMPOWER HIM WITH SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH TO PRAY EVEN MORE EARNESTLY; SO THAT BY PRAYER, HIS CONNECTIVITY WITH THE FATHER WILL BE SHARPENED FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD.
Rise up therefore; call all those who are finding it difficult to pray because their problems overwhelm them, and tell them you’ve found the remedy to their lack of zeal to pray. It is nothing other than to do exactly what they do not feel like doing. AND THAT IS TO PRAY! For in the course of the prayer, the Holy Spirit Himself will take over and intercede for them with wordless groans (Rom 8:28).
Remember, men ought to pray and not faint. So when you do not feel like praying, then you pray even the more. Strength to go through the prayer time and the challenges confronting you, God will supply.. This is not the time to feel weak and lazy. Watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation. His strength begins when ours comes to an end. Begin to pray now!
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