Coffee With The Lord

Then the Bible goes on to say, “When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and He said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation!” (From Luke 22:39 -46 ESV)

The question that came to my mind today is what exactly did Jesus mean when twice He told his disciples, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation!”? Did He mean that their prayer would shield and protect them from temptation? Or did He mean that their practice of prayer would strengthen them to resist and overcome temptation when it came their way?

I personally believe, this is a case of “purposeful ambiguity” in the Bible. The answer to the questions I’ve posed is probably both are possible – both are true – both were in His mind!

In fact, my personal experience is that prayer does both things…

I’ve prayed “lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil!” (from the “Lord’s Prayer” – Matthew 6:13) and had the Lord actually shield me from temptation and He kept it from coming my way! (In fact, an honest admission goes here – There have been a few times I actually entertained and wished a temptation would come my way and it didn’t! The Lord actually shielded and protected me! Know what I mean?)

But on the other hand, I know that prayer strengthens, buttresses, and hardens our resolve and Spiritual strength to resist temptation! When it comes, if our soul has been strengthened and nourished with prayer, we are better equipped to resist temptation and the Tempter (Satan)!

So what’s my recommendation (and I believe also the Lord’s)… “PRAY that you may not enter into temptation!” I’m going to do it! I’m going to do it daily! I’m going to trust God to both shield me from temptation and strengthen me to resist it when it comes! I’m going to use Him as my example (not the disciples)! I believe He will do it for me!

“Wow! You know everything… I mean EVERYTHING about me!”

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it!” (verses 1-6)

“Wow! You are present everywhere – everywhere I go!”

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you!” (verses 7-12)

“Wow! You created me – and you know me inside – out, even before I was born!”

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well! My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them!” (verses 13-16)

And then a summarizing “Wow”

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand!” (verses 17-18)

And finally, David (and my) response to all of these “Wows!”

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (verses 23-24)

This kind of thing, however, is happening all over our world, and not just in Muslim countries! It should serve as a reminder for us to support persecuted and suffering Christians – believers who live in countries where the Gospel is not welcome – regularly in our prayers!

The passage of Scripture I read this morning during “Coffee with the Lord” brought this to mind. It was Apostle Paul’s appeal (and word of reassurance) to the believers in Thessalonica (and believe me, they knew about suffering and persecution!)…

“Finally, brothers [and sisters], pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men! For not all have faith…

“But the Lord is faithful! He will establish you and guard you against the evil one… May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” ( 2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 ESV)

Let’s do it, shall we? Let’s lift up fellow Christians who are suffering and persecuted for their faith elsewhere in the world today? Let’s pray for devoted followers of Jesus who are living in “danger zones” where the Gospel message is not welcome. Let’s do it regularly!