Matthew 26:38, 40-41, 43-45

Matthew 26:38, 40-41, 43-45  Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."   Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."   When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near." Precious Jesus, I BELIEVE You've invited me to join You in agonizing prayer, and I have failed you miserably. Surrounded by the sorrow of sin, overwhelmed by the misery of suffering, and swallowed up in the sheer terror of impending death, You've asked me to keep vigil, but like Peter, I'm drowsy and prone to dozing off. Forgive me, O Lord! You know the brutal battle that lies ahead for all Christians. Clearly, You warn me to pay attention and pray. Deep agonizing grief from the consequences of poor choices may besiege me. The intense suffering from sickness may be unbearable. The cruel killing of souls and maiming of minds may torment me to the point of overwhelming despair. With all my heart, I want to obey, but the nighttime of the soul seems eternally long and I'm worn out and restless. I beg You to teach me to pray powerful prayers that will crush the adversary. The hour is near when You'll come back, and I don't want You to find me sleeping again. I want You to be pleasantly surprised when You find me in the garden wrestling over the burdens of Your heart for the glory of Your name. Amen. O. Chambers writes in My Utmost for His Highest, October 16: "The key to the missionary's difficult task is in the hand of God, and that key is prayer, not work ... the key is in following the Master's orders - the key is prayer. Jesus has invited us to watch and pray with Him. His intense agonizing prayer in the garden gave Him the strength to face the journey to the cross. If we don't pay attention and wrestle with Him in prayer, we'll snap when the stress and strain do come - and it will come. Ask Jesus to teach you to pray powerful prayers that will crush the enemy.