Jim Stephens' Gracenotes from Resource Ministries International

Pray That You Don’t Give In

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Luke 22:39-46

39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. 45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” (Luke 22:39-46 NLT)

Prayer is a big part of the story here in Luke 22:

  • In verse 31 and 32 Jesus tells Peter he has prayed for him that he won’t “give in or give out” and that when he has come through a time of temptation and testing he will turn and strengthen his friends.
  • In verses 40 and 46 Jesus challenges his weary, discouraged disciples to “pray so that you won’t give in to temptation.”
  • In verse 42, Jesus prays, “Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?” (Luke 22:42 MSG)

Jesus established dialog with the Father when he was being both tested for commitment and tempted to side-step the coming agony. He said, “Father, here’s what I’d like to see happen. But I surrender to whatever you want!”

His prayer didn’t stop with his personal plea for relief and release, but expressed his complete surrender to God’s will, no matter what the outcome.  This allowed his Father to speak into the very core of his being – to speak confirmation of purpose, strength of resolve, and encouragement of outcome.

How much clearer does it need to be? Prayer is a vital key in enduring testing and overcoming temptation. I need to pray when I’m tested and when I’m tempted. And my prayer needs to be two-way communication, speaking, asking, and listening.

Prayer:

Father, I want to remain strong in testing and resolute in temptation. Help me to take the lesson from Jesus’ praying and prayer in the Garden and apply it in my own times of daily testing and temptation. May it be as you want it to be! In Jesus’ Name!