Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (NIV)

You may have come across the saying, ‘Seven prayerless days make one weak!’

We find ourselves locked in a very real spiritual battle, but there is no doubt that prayer is important for spiritual strengthening. We can see this in the example and experience of Jesus Himself (43). Our Lord did not simply ‘preach’ about prayer (exhorting others to do it); He prayed (did it Himself). In verse 37 He had said, ”… what is written about me is reaching its fulfilment.” He knew what time it was on God’s calendar, and He was feeling the heat. But He also knew what He needed to do about it (and what His followers needed to do).

In verse 44 I find that the simple words ”he prayed” demand my attention, and warm my heart. Jesus prayed, but it seems the disciples did not. Look what happened to them in the short term.

The fact that these men were ”exhausted from sorrow” rings true. It resonates. Feelings of grief and sadness can make you want to pull the duvet over your head and seek relief in the oblivion of sleep. But there is a challenge here for sleepy saints. May we shake off every temptation to sloth and pray while we can. There we will find very real strength for this very real battle.

”And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:11,12)

PRAYER: ”Oh, my Lord, thy chosen disciples failed thee in that hour; but so have we! What can we say! Help us to share thy vigil and thy prayer!” F.B.Meyer