When you pray
Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he told them, “Sit here while I pray.” Jesus took along Peter, James, and John. He was sad and troubled and told them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.” Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt down on the ground and prayed, “Father, if it is possible, don’t let this happen to me! Father, you can do anything. Don’t make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want.” Mark 14:32-35
When a Christian prays, great and marvelous things happen in his or her life. When Jesus commanded John the Baptist to baptize Him, He prayed and the heaven opened. “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened” (Luke 3:21). When the disciples gathered to pray as commanded by Jesus after He ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit came upon them and the power of God was manifested on the Day of Pentecost (see Acts 1:14; 2:1). After Peter and John were told by the Sanhedrin to stop preaching the gospel and when they were released the disciples heard the report and they prayed together to ask God to provide them courage to continue preaching the Gospel. “After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God’s message” (Acts 4:31). God does wonderful things in and through the believer’s life when one prays than He does in no other way. When you pray, your attention is focused on God. This will facilitate becoming more receptive to aligning your life with His will. God equips those who find time to come to His throne of grace seeking His guidance. The Holy Spirit will not enable you if you are not willing to listen to Him and obey His Word. He wants your complete attention if you want Him to lead you in your life. Several times you read about Jesus coming to a place where He could pray. He provided you an example to follow. He did not always receive what He asked for; i. e., His desire to be spared from experiencing suffering and death on the cross. But His prayers were always heard and always answered (Mark 14:36; Heb. 5:7). If you feel weak in your spiritual life and you do not experience being filled by the Holy Spirit, you may not be spending sufficient time in prayer. Maybe you are more into pursuing your own plan rather than pursuing the Father’s will. Perhaps you have left the place of prayer before God’s answer came. Commit yourself to devote continual time in prayer. Ask God that He will live your life under His authority as you take part in expanding His kingdom on earth. When you do, God will work in your life just as He did in the lives of Jesus and His disciples.
Blessings,
