“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:37-39
My daughter Deidre is driving me to Champaign this morning for an invasive test to determine the best way for doctors to address the blood clot behind my knee and improve the blood flow to my right foot. My daughters and me have been praying about this challenge for several weeks. My congregation saw my name in the Prayers on Sunday and they will also be lifting me up in their prayers. I will pray for my doctor and surgical staff before they place me into a fog and insert a needle into my femoral artery. We Christians, were taught to pray by our parents and pastors and by our Savior.
During this season of Lent, we have read in the above verses about the three times that Jesus prayed the same words to the Father. Like my prayer, they weren’t eloquent words. They weren’t increasingly joyful. He returned and prayed the same grieved words over and over again.
Sometimes, we don’t have any new words to add. Sometimes our concern continues, and sometimes it worsens. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t tire of hearing our requests again. He doesn’t wag his finger at us and say “I heard you already”. Instead, He continues to listen; He wants to hear us.
Christ will not let you go; He will not turn you away or criticize your prayers. He will never condemn you; He came to save us. Keep turning back to Jesus, keep kneeling, keep pleading. He sees each tear and He hears each word, no matter how frail we seem to be. We pray that above all, His divine will is going to be accomplished…no matter how that turns out. We take our prayers to the foot of the cross and leave them at His feet.
This will be my last devotion for the week and if surgery is scheduled sooner then it may be a while longer. Have a blessed day. Thank you for your prayers.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay