Rise and Pray
It’s interesting to see what Jesus told his disciples to do regarding prayer before he was arrested. In Luke 22:40, when he was on the Mount of Olives, he told his disciples “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Then he went off by himself and prayed earnestly to God because he was distressed about the upcoming crucifixion. When he returned to where his disciples were he noticed that they were all sound asleep.
Jesus responded to them in v.46 “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Previously he had encouraged them to only pray, now he challenges them to rise and pray. Why would he do this?
The Bible also teaches that while our spirits are often willing to engage in prayer, our flesh is weak. That means that our bodies and minds can make it difficult to pray. Jesus encourages them to do something physically that will help them spiritually. He calls them to rise and pray.
What we do with our physical bodies can help or hinder our spiritual development. Sometimes it’s as simple as rising up when we pray. It simply helps keep the blood flowing and keeps us more alert. Why is it that sometimes it’s easier to fall asleep in prayer meetings than actually pray? I think it’s partly because we don’t move at all. A little mobilization goes a long way in helping us to stay focused.
For years now I’ve found it particularly helpful to walk and pace as I pray. It really does help me stay focused. There certainly is no prescribed manner of prayer in the Bible. There are all kinds of biblical postures of prayer including kneeling, lying prostrate, standing, etc. Each one is meaningful and beneficial. I think we should employ all of them. The main point in prayer is the condition of our hearts and not the position of our bodies. However, I believe that our physical posture can have an effect on our ability to focus.
In certain times, like when we are exhausted or tired, it would be best to walk or pace when we pray. Jesus disciples were obviously very tired, but that’s most likely why Jesus told them to rise and pray.
Just some of my thoughts. Do you have any?
Rise and Pray
It’s interesting to see what Jesus told his disciples to do regarding prayer before he was arrested. In Luke 22:40, when he was on the Mount of Olives, he told his disciples “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Then he went off by himself and prayed earnestly to God because he was distressed about the upcoming crucifixion. When he returned to where his disciples were he noticed that they were all sound asleep.
Jesus responded to them in v.46 “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Previously he had encouraged them to only pray, now he challenges them to rise and pray. Why would he do this?
The Bible also teaches that while our spirits are often willing to engage in prayer, our flesh is weak. That means that our bodies and minds can make it difficult to pray. Jesus encourages them to do something physically that will help them spiritually. He calls them to rise and pray.
What we do with our physical bodies can help or hinder our spiritual development. Sometimes it’s as simple as rising up when we pray. It simply helps keep the blood flowing and keeps us more alert. Why is it that sometimes it’s easier to fall asleep in prayer meetings than actually pray? I think it’s partly because we don’t move at all. A little mobilization goes a long way in helping us to stay focused.
For years now I’ve found it particularly helpful to walk and pace as I pray. It really does help me stay focused. There certainly is no prescribed manner of prayer in the Bible. There are all kinds of biblical postures of prayer including kneeling, lying prostrate, standing, etc. Each one is meaningful and beneficial. I think we should employ all of them. The main point in prayer is the condition of our hearts and not the position of our bodies. However, I believe that our physical posture can have an effect on our ability to focus.
In certain times, like when we are exhausted or tired, it would be best to walk or pace when we pray. Jesus disciples were obviously very tired, but that’s most likely why Jesus told them to rise and pray.
Just some of my thoughts. Do you have any?
George Muller On Overcoming ADD in Prayer
I know I’m probably the only one who’s ever had to deal with this, but have you ever struggled with ADD in prayer? You know, trying to be focused in prayer but instead end up experiencing all kinds of distractions. Like when you sit down to pray and then remember that your car needs an oil change, your refrigerator is empty, the room you’re in could really use a good cleaning, and wow! your already 10 minutes late for work!
So what do you do? How do you deal with it?
George Muller wrote something really insightful regarding this in his autobiography. He said:
“The primary business I must attend to every day is fellowship with the Lord. The first concern is not how much I might serve the Lord, but how my inner man might be nourished…The most important thing I had to do was to read the Word of God and meditate on it…Formerly, when I rose, I began to pray as soon as possible. But I often spent a quarter of an hour to an hour on my knees struggling to pray while my mind wandered. Now I rarely have this problem. As my heart is nourished by the truth of the Word, I am brought into true fellowship with God… This exercise of the soul can be best performed after the inner man has been nourished by meditation on the Word of God.”
Muller basically proposes that meditation on the Scriptures is a powerful means of staying focused in prayer. As our minds are occupied with the truth of God’s Word our souls will stay nourished and focused in prayer.
George Muller On Overcoming ADD in Prayer
I know I’m probably the only one who’s ever had to deal with this, but have you ever struggled with ADD in prayer? You know, trying to be focused in prayer but instead end up experiencing all kinds of distractions. Like when you sit down to pray and then remember that your car needs an oil change, your refrigerator is empty, the room you’re in could really use a good cleaning, and wow! your already 10 minutes late for work!
So what do you do? How do you deal with it?
George Muller wrote something really insightful regarding this in his autobiography. He said:
“The primary business I must attend to every day is fellowship with the Lord. The first concern is not how much I might serve the Lord, but how my inner man might be nourished…The most important thing I had to do was to read the Word of God and meditate on it…Formerly, when I rose, I began to pray as soon as possible. But I often spent a quarter of an hour to an hour on my knees struggling to pray while my mind wandered. Now I rarely have this problem. As my heart is nourished by the truth of the Word, I am brought into true fellowship with God… This exercise of the soul can be best performed after the inner man has been nourished by meditation on the Word of God.”
Muller basically proposes that meditation on the Scriptures is a powerful means of staying focused in prayer. As our minds are occupied with the truth of God’s Word our souls will stay nourished and focused in prayer.
