The most gruesome night of Gethsemane holds one of the most pivotal principles for those who desire a life full of freedom.
It is in the chapter (Mark 14) that we deeply discover the inverse relationship between temptation and prayer. As the young students of Jesus are asked to stay up and pray for their teacher, they continue to nod off like overtired infants. It is at this point that Jesus comes back to reconvene and encounters a bunch of dozed off droolers.
Jesus’ Response: “Simon couldn’t you wait up and watch with me for one hour? Keep watch and pray so that you may not give into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body weak.”
Jesus’ unequivocally clear solution for temptation: Prayer.
Not thinking good thoughts (all though that can be good)
Not accountability partners (all though they can be helpful)
Not computer filter programs (all though these too are beneficial)
No, the certain solution for the most terrifying temptations we face…
Prayer
Our constant conversation with the Spirit is sizably important because He is willing to move towards God and away from Sin every time and we are not.
The more we pray the less we fall into temptation
The less we pray the more temptation triumphs
(It’s an inverse relationship-think 5th grade math)
This is why in the most intense moment of God’s rescue plan to crucify our sin through the Son, the Son was down on His face praying. Jesus understood that the only way to triumph over the temptation to bypass his torture was to talk to his Papa through powerful and pain filled prayer.
Why do you think we turn to so many other things in times of temptation instead of simply talking to God?
