“From time to time,” Stan commented one morning while we waited for Ricky to bring our breakfast, “we’ve talked about spending time with God first thing in the morning.”
“We have,” I agreed. “It’s a good way to start each new day. I have to admit, though, that it’s not always easy for me to do that.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” Stan replied. “It took me a long time to get into the daily routine of wanting to get up and spend time with God.”
“Wanting to do it,” I repeated. “I suppose that’s a key ingredient. If I don’t want to do it, it’s probably not going to happen.”
“You’re right,” Stan replied. “It’s wanting to do it and being thankful that God wants us to spend time with Him.”
Continuing, he added, “In fact, just the other morning, when I was reading and praying in Luke’s gospel, I was reminded of how it all started with me.”
“In what way?” I asked.
“Jesus and the disciples were in the Garden of Gethsemane,” Stan replied. “Jesus was deeply in prayer with His Father about what He was going to face in going to the cross.”
“Where Jesus gave Himself to the Father’s will, whatever that was going to involve,” I said. “Is that it?”
“That’s it,” Stan said. “And He had asked His disciples to pray with Him, but when Jesus came back to them, that’s when Jesus said to them the same I hear each morning.”
“What same thing?”
“Luke records,” Stan replied, “that Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation’.”
“And that’s what happens with you?”
“It is,” Stan replied. “I’m awakened and led by the Holy Spirit to get up and spend time with God in prayer through journaling.”
“What about the part of not entering temptation?” I asked. “What kind of temptation?”
“Anything and everything that keeps me from wanting to draw closer to God in an ever-deepening relationship.”
“Anything and everything,” I repeated. “Lots of lessons from the garden!”
“You’re right,” Stan said. “The lesson of getting up to spend time with God, the lesson that God wants us to spend time with Him, and the lesson that the time with Him will involve whatever He has for us. Just think what we miss if we’re not there!”
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Bible veres to consider:
And He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Luke 22:46.
And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:40-41.
Keep watching and praying, that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is week. Mark 14:38.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your free and gracious provision of life eternally with you through the cross of Christ. Thank you, too, that you want me to draw closer to you in an ever-deepening relationship while you keep me on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I do not want to spend time with you. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me to follow every step of your lead when you ask, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Lead me and help me to follow. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you awakened from your “sleep” in the sense that you have accepted God’s provision of life eternally with Him? If no, why do you want to remain separated from Him? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with spending time with God every day getting to know Him better so that your waking hours manifest Him? If you sense the need for change in any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?