Luke 22:35
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.
The disciples were about to enter into the darkest valley they had faced, and what is one of the things Christ does to strengthen and encourage them? He reminds them of His faithfulness and provision from past experiences. He reminds them of a time when they left with nothing yet were filled with everything they needed! Jesus knows that there is power in remembering the victories and provisions the Lord has given us in the past. He also wants the disciples to remember it was Him that sent them and that He also provided for them, just as He said would happen.
We’re all going to face dark valleys in this life; some will be longer, and some will be darker, but all are capable of crossing because He is with us! We must hold fast to those times in our past when He showed up and made a way where there was no way. We have to hold fast to His promises in His Word, remembering that no word from God will ever fail. We have to know that He is near to His children even when it feels like He is a million miles away.
When we get into the valley, we can either draw from our faith and past victories in Him, or we can draw from our flesh and the weakness it provides. The question isn’t whether remembering the Lord works, but rather, will we do it? God gave us memories for a reason – not to remember our sins and failures but to remember His love and faithfulness!
Lamentations 3:21-23- Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
God bless! I love you all, but His love reigns eternal! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!
Luke 22:40
On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
Luke 22:46- "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Twice in the garden, Jesus reiterates this truth to them and to us; prayer battles temptation, and to abandon prayer is to leave yourself open and vulnerable to temptation. Jesus isn't saying that prayer will stop all temptation from happening but that if we want to avoid falling victim to it, then prayer is a necessity.
The Bible teaches us that Jesus prayed often and if the Son of God had the desire and deemed it necessary to pray, then how much more should we be engulfing ourselves in prayer? Jesus knew and was teaching us that a direct line to God brings power from on high, power that can equip us to walk through the fiery furnaces of this life unscathed.
There is an amazing truth in between these verses, and that is this. Jesus was praying in the garden, facing the temptation from the enemy with the cross looming ahead of Him. Yet what is God's response to Christ's prayer?
Luke 22:43- An angel from Heaven appeared to him and strengthened Him.
As Jesus was praying, God sent an angel from Heaven to strengthen Him and equip Him to carry on and carry the cross for our salvation! This also teaches us that prayer isn't just for after the fact. Prayer is not just a defensive weapon but also an offensive one. We need to attack our problems, situations and lives head-on in prayer.
Jesus is calling us to be proactive in prayer and step out in faith! Too often, we sit idly by while things overtake us all the while. We have been given a great weapon in prayer that we either refuse to use or forget to equip ourselves with until the battle becomes too strong. So today, if you are struggling with falling into the same traps and temptations, I encourage you to meet them head first in prayer and rest in His power and not your own!
1 Thessalonians 5:17- Never stop praying.
God bless! I love you all but His love battles temptation! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!
Luke 22:54-57
Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it.
I was in Luke this morning and was reading where Jesus is arrested and Peter follows at a distance and eventually denies him. It struck me because sometimes, I do the same thing. I say I will go with Him wherever He wants, but when push comes to shove, I let Him go in first and then decide if I want to follow! But it can’t be this way, because when I let that distance come between us, it gives the enemy that opening to attack! If I’m going to walk with Jesus into a lion’s den, I have to be right on His heels or I’m not going to make it!!
God reminded me this morning that when I was a little kid, I used to follow my mom around the house so closely that if she stopped, I would run into her. Why did I do this? Because she was the one who protected me, loved me, guided me, fed me, and did so many other things! God told me this morning that’s how I have to be when walking with Jesus!! I have to be so close to Jesus that if He stops, I will run into Him!!!!
One last thing God revealed to me about this is that the areas I’m strong in are only because I let Him rule them, and my weakness comes from me trying to run without Him!! We gotta be so close to Jesus that others can’t tell where one ends and the other begins!!!!!
I love you all, God bless, and glory to God!!!!
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