“Sweet Hour of Prayer”
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:40-41
This is a tough one but if I’m being honest, I think I probably would have done the same thing as the disciples in this situation. They had just come from the Last Supper, where they listened to Jesus teach about how to serve others, communion and many other things. After the Passover dinner, they went to a familiar place, the garden of Gethsemane, a place where they had spent many nights in the past. I’m sure it seemed logical to them to get some sleep.
But this night was different. Jesus had asked them to stay awake. He took Peter, James, and John deeper into the garden, confiding in them how deeply distressed He was. So much so that He felt as though He might die. He asked them to stay at that spot and keep watch while He went a little farther to pray.
I imagine the disciples didn’t fully understand what they were watching for, but Jesus knew what was coming. Judas was on his way with the guards. This was the beginning of the end, and Jesus felt the weight of it all.
Peter, James, and John didn’t do so well with the assignment. They fell asleep. They had heard Jesus say He was struggling and I’m sure it was obvious by His actions. Maybe they started praying when Jesus walked away, but their prayers didn’t last long before exhaustion overtook them.
Honestly, I can’t blame them. I sometimes struggle to pray for more than just a few minutes at a time. I love talking to God throughout the day, but when it comes time to shut out the world and press into His presence, it’s not always easy.
I’m reminded of an old hymn called “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” I’ve tried living out the message of that song, and I can tell you it’s true. At one point, I made it a discipline to pray in the Spirit for an hour each day. It was a blessing like no other. Around the 45-minute mark, every time, I would experience a breakthrough. A peace would flood in, answers and direction became clear, and I felt a deeper sense of connection with God. I can’t fully explain it, but it was real. The challenge, however, was getting there. I knew the place of breakthrough was waiting, but my flesh didn’t always want to press in long enough to get there.
This is why I believe Jesus asked the disciples, “Couldn’t you stay with Me in prayer for one hour?” He followed with the reason why this “sweet hour” is so vital: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Spending extended time in prayer pushes through the weakness of the flesh and brings the strength of the spirit to the front lines of your life.
Now I understand that prayer is not a discipline, but a privilege. It’s a privilege to sit in the presence of my Heavenly Father for long stretches of time. It’s an honor to be in the Spirit, putting my flesh in its proper place and letting my spirit connect personally with His. When I make it to that “sweet hour of prayer,” it truly changes my perspective, attitude and the direction I am headed in.
Today, I want to encourage you to take advantage of the privilege of prayer. Start small if you need to but build up your time with God. Set a goal to spend an hour with Him at least once a week. Bask in His glory every chance you get. I promise you it will change your life.
When you linger in the presence of God, His glory can’t help but rub off on you. So go ahead and step into the “sweet hour of prayer.” It’s an experience like no other, and it will take your life into a whole new dimension.
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 26:31-46
31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”
37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
The Daily Dose 