As we were enjoying breakfast together one morning, Stan commented, “When I look and see how the disciples interacted with Jesus, I often see lessons for how I’m to relate or not relate to other people. I saw one of those instances earlier this morning in my journaling time. I’d like to share it with you.”
“Okay,” I responded. “What’d you see?”
“When someone comes to me and tells me they’re troubled and distressed, my answer is not supposed to be, ‘Let me sleep on that’.”
“What led you to see that?”
“When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane,” Stan replied, “that’s basically what happened. Jesus was in deep prayer with His Father about going to the cross. He told His disciples he was troubled and deeply distressed, but the disciples went to sleep rather than staying awake to pray with and for Him.”
“How does that relate to you?”
“When someone comes to me and tells me they are troubled and distressed, my role is to pray with them to help them see what God knows they need. I’m to pray right then and there. I’m not to say, ‘Let me sleep on it’!”
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Bible verses to consider:
Then He sad to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me. . . . 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, . . .” Matthew 26:38-41.
And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” Mark 14:37.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you, too, that you allow us to come before you in prayer to lift the needs of others to you. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I’m not as responsive as you want to the prayer needs of others. Help me follow every step of your lead in helping others who come to me with their prayer needs — help me help them see what you know they need by praying with and for them. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted what Jesus did on the cross in opening to you life eternally with God, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with responding to the prayer needs of others? Are you willing to do what you can to help them see what God knows they need? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to be as responsive as He wants to the prayer needs of others? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?