“Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Luke 22:40

For most of us, prayer is like a fire extinguisher on the wall. We desire to know it is available, but we hope we never need it. We consider prayer for emergency procedures only. If we can face life without using prayer, we are comfortable to proceed without calling on the Lord.

When we do pray, we usually give the Lord a laundry list of what we need. Our assumption is that God needs for us to identify where we need Him to rescue or provide. We give God His marching orders for the day. As we direct God, one might be confused as to who should be directing, and who should be responding.

When we ask God in prayer, we tend to narrow our focus to desires, threats, sickness, and tragedies. Our prayers reflect our frustrations, fears, weaknesses, and doubts. Many prayers can sound like a baby whining for their bottle. Our focus is on something yet to be awarded that will make life complete.

Prayer seems to be a focus on our present experience. We have difficulty remembering past blessings and we are unable to look around the corner for future events. We don’t feel the need for God’s warning as much as we need rescuing from today’s agenda. Rarely do we ask God for insight into the future.

Prayer is a powerful preparation to help us face the day! Prayer should be an intimate walk with God where we listen, and God speaks. Prayer should be a time of inspiration, encouragement, advice, counsel, and direction.

When Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew what the future held. He knew He would be betrayed. He knew He would be beaten, rejected, crucified, and killed. He had told the disciples as such, yet they refused to understand the spiritual implications.

Behind all the events to come was the greatest spiritual battle yet faced in history. Included in this conflict would be all disciples. Not only would Satan attempt to destroy the Messiah, but His followers as well.

Jesus’ encouragement for the disciples to pray was to help prepare them for the temptations that were coming. Their prayer was not a support for Jesus. Prayer was needed for courage, wisdom, commitment, faithfulness, and appropriate action on their part.

Because the disciples did not understand the future, they did not accept the agenda. Instead of praying, they slept. Because they did not pray, they were not ready when life turned upside down.

Every day is full of predictable life issues. In addition, each day has unforeseen challenges that tend to catch us unprepared. It is that precious time with the Lord before life growls at us that helps us cope and even conquer the challenges to our faith.

If life seems quiet, celebrate the season with a spirit of personal communion with your Lord who knows your needs better than you and loves you more than you can imagine. Instead of trying to coach Jesus in how He can bless you, listen to His advice and do what He says. It may not make sense now, but in due time you will fare better when you do what he tells you to do.

The Lord’s command to pray is a call to preparation for meeting today!

Dr. John A. Temple is pastor of Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church, 4032 Poplar Springs Drive, Meridian. Visit the church website at www.psdbc.org.