{"id":22604,"date":"2018-03-11T00:06:30","date_gmt":"2018-03-11T08:06:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=22604"},"modified":"2018-03-09T12:10:22","modified_gmt":"2018-03-09T20:10:22","slug":"march-11-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/03\/11\/march-11-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"March 11, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cSit here while I pray.\u201d <\/em>Mark 14:32<\/p>\n

The Watching<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We all know the power and importance of prayer even though we may struggle with it at times.\u00a0I have learned that the best way to grow in prayer is simply to pray.\u00a0The more one prays, the more one has a desire to pray. You develop an appetite for prayer. You will grow into prayer as you practice it.<\/p>\n

In Mark 14 I saw another aspect of prayer. Jesus tells His disciples, \u201cSit here while I pray\u201d<\/em> (verse 32). In verse 34 He says, \u201cStay here and watch.\u201d<\/em> He comes back to them in verse 38 and says, \u201cWatch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.\u201d<\/em> And finally in verse 41, Jesus says, \u201c\u2026It is enough. The hour is come\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Initially Jesus is not even asking them to pray for Him.\u00a0He wants their presence. He is doing the heavy lifting here.\u00a0He is praying to His Father in preparation for the cross. Sometimes we just need to be there for Jesus in a state of waiting with Him in the work He is doing. Sometimes we can sit quietly before Him and connect with His heart, watching to see what God will do and what God will speak.\u00a0This is a time of contemplation that goes beyond words, platitudes, or petitions. There are times to just stay and watch.<\/p>\n

And then there are the times He is asking us to not only watch with Him, but pray as well. When Jesus asks this of the disciples, it was not for His sake. His mind was made up, His course was set, His soul was set on Calvary\u2019s redemption. It was for their sakes.\u00a0It was to strengthen them for the things that would come. It was to keep them from temptation.\u00a0Prayer would prepare their own hearts to meet the assaults of Satan\u2019s schemes. Prayer would keep them attuned to God\u2019s purposes and prayer would keep them from sin.<\/p>\n

And then comes that time when you know you are \u201cprayed up.\u201d There is that moment that settles in your soul and echoes, \u201cGod\u2019s got this.\u201d It is enough. The hour is come.<\/p>\n

\u201cFather, be our help. May we often resort to You. May we be ever mindful of the kingdom work You are still doing. As we watch and wait before You, direct us and use us in this dying world. All for Your glory, Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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