Prayer is More than Words

And prayer is more than an order of words, 

the conscious occupation

Of the praying mind, or the sound of the voice praying.

- T.S Eliot

Matthew 26:36-46

³⁶ Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 

³⁷ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 

³⁸ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless^[a]I drink it, Your will be done.” 

⁴³ And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

⁴⁴ So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

 ⁴⁵ Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

The Time of Prayer

Throughout the story of Jesus life the Bible gives us things to look at, observe, and heed. It is here in Matthew 26 that we find one of the greatest prayers in the Bible. This is right before Jesus would be betrayed by Judas Iscariot and begin the ending of his life. Circumstance seems to deem a call home! Even Jesus in time of need makes a call to the Father. So then there is always a time for prayer. 

Psychology gives us a pretty good outline of when to pray. There are more of course but here are some categories. 

For example, times of:

• Sadness
• Anger
• Joy 
• Fear
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Lust 
• Shame

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies. 21Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.

v.36-38
Where then should we go in these times?
Where did the Master go? God.
So it is with us, we need to make a call.

The Way to Prayer 

v.39-42 
a little further....on the brink of physical exhaustion because of what was on his mind; the wrath of God would soon be poured ut onto Him, he would be seperated from His Father!

Why? To save mankind......

1. Prayer is reverent and we need to know Who we are speaking to.
2. Humility is the forefront of prayer, we are asking for God to intervene on our behalf and for our good!
3. His will NOT ours for our lives should always be first. 

³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

1. We make our request, God hears it and will respond according to His will.
2. God is Omniscient-all knowing of all people, at all times. Prayer is for us God doesn't need to be informed but rather wants us to be in line with the way He wants things to go.

⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless^[a]I drink it, Your will be done.” 

1. It is ok to ask for something more than once. It is the constant knocking at heaven's door that will provide clarity and wisdom for that needed time. 

The Answer of Prayer  

v. 45-46 ⁴⁵ Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

1. God always answers prayer.
2. He may say yes or no.

John 16:13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 

Apply It-
Dear one, Make the call home!  
Do you know when it is time to pray? 
God's will where is it in your prayer life top, botttom, not at all?
God's answer is the best one whether yes, no, not yet, or wait.