Stan and I were together again for breakfast and conversation about our faith at the Twelve Baskets Cafe. As we were enjoying what we’d ordered for breakfast, Stan mentioned that earlier that morning in his journaling time he’d focused on missed opportunities. I asked him what caused him to focus on that.
“I was looking at what happened with the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane,” Stan replied.
“The disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane? Did they miss some kind of opportunity?”
“They sure did,” Stan replied. “As you may remember, rather than doing what Jesus asked them to do, which was to watch with Him, the disciples chose to sleep. Too often I do the same thing.”
“Go to sleep?”
“Sometimes, yeah, I go to or stay asleep rather than spend time with God, but it’s really about anything I choose to do, sleep or otherwise, that causes me to miss an opportunity for a closer and deeper walk with Him.”
“With the disciples in the garden,” he continued, “Jesus asked them to watch with Him as He spent deeply personal time with His Father about what He was about to face in going to the cross. Just think about what the disciples missed by sleeping rather than watching with Him!”
“Yeah,” I replied, “by not watching with Jesus, I guess they missed the opportunity to observe what it looks like to truly go to the Father in deep prayer.”
“Good guess,” Stan replied with a smile. “By sleeping rather than watching, there’s always a missed opportunity!”
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Bible verses to consider:
And they came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them. “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground, and began praying that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for Thee; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what Thou wilt.” . . . And He came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hand of sinners. Arise, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!” Mark 14:32-42.
And why do you call Me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46.
Prayer: Thank you, Father for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. 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 miss too many opportunities to spend deep, intimate time with you by choosing to do what I want to do apart from you. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead into the deepest possible personal relationship with you. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Can you have an ever-deepening relationship with God through Jesus because you have accepted His finished work on the cross? 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 setting aside what you want to do apart from God and pursuing an ever-deepening personal relationship with Him? 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 have an ever-deepening personal relationship with Him? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, 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?