An alliterative ask for help...


My husband and I watch Jeopardy.  It's one of those things we enjoy doing together and I am constantly amazed by the things his brain has retained over the years.

Today - I'm thinking about Persistent Prayer (Alex, what is an alliterative ask for help?...) and how it can change the way we think and feel about a situation...

When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane in the evening before he was arrested, Matthew 26 tells us that he told Peter, James and John, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me." (Matthew 26:38)

And then three times he went to the Father in prayer.

Knowing what awaited him, first he said, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)

Next he said, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." (Matthew 26:42)

Then we are told he went away one more time and prayed the same thing, before finally returning to his sleeping disciples and saying, "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!" (Matthew 26:45-46)

From that moment on, Jesus was as meek as the paschal lamb he was to become.

Though he certainly could have, he did not call on angels to save him, he did not smite the Romans and religious personnel who called for his death, he did not oblige Herod with the miracle he asked for, and he did not come down from the cross.

Instead - he went willingly, humbly to his death.

What I take from this is not that persistent prayer will cause us to always "get what we want", for God is not some heavenly genie here to do our bidding.  Instead, persistent prayer helps our hearts, minds and spirits to come to a place of rest.  One where, like Jesus, we can submit humbly and faithfully to the will of our father.

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