Daily Prayer_March 8, 2011

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 8:1-5 (HCSB)
¹ Doesn't Wisdom call out? Doesn't Understanding make her voice heard? ² At the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads, she takes her stand. ³ Beside the gates at the entry to the city, at the main entrance, she cries out: ⁴ "People, I call out to you; my cry is to mankind. ⁵ Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced; develop common sense, you who are foolish.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 148:13 (HCSB)
Let them praise the name of Yahweh, for His name alone is exalted. His majesty covers heaven and earth.

The Word for encouragement:

Luke 22:43-44 (HCSB)
⁴³ Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. ⁴⁴ Being in anguish, He prayed more fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

My observation:

Today we continue with our examination of our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane. In today's focal passage from Luke we see Jesus experiencing extreme emotional and physical agony. Jesus had prayed this prayer previously:

Luke 22:42 (HCSB)
"Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me—nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done."  

However, Jesus knew who he was, and why he was in the world. Satan was in the garden, but Jesus knew that his Father was in heaven watching over him, and that he was on a mission for his Father for the sake of his beloved children. Jesus was willing to endure the agony that he faced for the sake of doing the Father's will.

John 18:11 (HCSB)
At that, Jesus said to Peter, "Sheathe your sword! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given Me?"

Jesus had set the example for how we can face and overcome the temptations that we face on our journey through this world.  Our response to the temptations and the traps of Satan is to call upon the name of the Lord in prayer. This is what Jesus told his disciples to do.

Luke 22:40 (HCSB)
When He reached the place, He told them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."

If you humble yourself, watch and pray, the Father will carry you through. But, you have to ask the Father to help you. What he did for Jesus, God will do for you.

Philippians 2:8-9 (HCSB)
⁸ He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. ⁹ For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that I can live my life with the assurance that my heavenly Father is always watching over me and caring for me.

Father, I pray for the desire, the willingness, and the strength to persevere in prayer until I hear from heaven.

Father, I pray that I will not give in to temptation, and that I will not give up because of emotional or physical agony, but that I will hold on to reap the blessings that accrue to those who endure to the end.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (HCSB)
⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

My song:

When the Battle is Over (Click on link below to listen to this song by the late Bishop Walter Hawkins):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHSjW4JKtcU

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org

Proverbs 3:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; ⁶ think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.