“Prayer In Troubled Times”
Pastor David Moore
New Testament reading: Matthew 26:36-46
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Today’s theme is concentrated around Jeremiah’s humanity displayed in his praying with God.
Old Testament reading: Jeremiah 15:15-21
You understand, O Lord; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors.
You are long suffering—do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your
name, O Lord Almighty. I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation.
Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails? Therefore, this is what the Lord says: “If you repent,
I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.
I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you
but will not overcome you, for I am with you, to rescue and save you,” declares the Lord.
“I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel.”
Prayer is powerful. But remember that God works in His timing, not yours. Have patience.
Prayer Tip: You can talk to God about everything!
Jeremiah 15:18: Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails.
“I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time – waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God – it changes me.” ~C. S. Lewis
“When the promises of God seem powerless to quiet our fears, soothe our grief, or lift our worries, we need to do more than simply hear His promises again. We need to behold the God who gives them.” ~Scott Hubbard
True prayer is a spontaneous outpouring of honesty and need from the soul’s foundation. In calm times, we say a prayer. In desperate times, we truly pray. ~David Jeremiah
Three lessons about Jeremiah’s prayer we have learned today:
1. In prayer we are able to reveal our deepest thoughts.
2. God expects us to trust Him no matter what.
3. We are here to influence others for God.
Prayer is the answer to life. We are to be real in our prayers to God, no matter what emotions are going through our minds. Pour all your thoughts to God, He is our ultimate Father. He wants to hear from you. God will help you move forward, He has plans for you, He has plans to bless you. And He will give you hope and a future. God has given us power and His promise through our prayers to Him.
This week think about Jeremiah and his life troubles, his prayer wrestling with God, with a country that is not hearing his message from God to save Israel from sorrow. We are made of the same flesh, blood, and mind as Jeremiah.
Come to God with all your needs and be patient as you wait for God’s direction.
Have a hope-filled week! God bless.