So sleepy...

Around 2 in the afternoon I get so sleepy. Concentration eludes me, eyelids heavy. If I am on the road, I know I am a hazard to myself and others. Sometimes I find a place to park and take a 10 minute long power nap.  Do you have a midday lull in energy, too?

Jesus was in the struggle of His life!  In the garden, He was readying Himself for the Cross. The terrible separation from His Father when He took our sins on Himself loomed just ahead. The suffering of crucifixion was waiting.  He cried in horror and pain, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Mark 14:36, NLT) Not wanting to be alone, He took Peter, James, and John with him and asked them to pray.  Instead, they fell asleep!  Overcome by emotion and stress, worn out by the activities of the day, they drifted off. Jesus turned from His prayer with a warning:  "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Mark 14:38-40, NIV) In the days ahead they would be tested. They would taste fear, find themselves confused, and become disillusioned. Failure was not just possible, it was likely.  “Pray, men! Get in touch with God and stay strong!”  But, they slept! And they failed. Every one of the disciples ran off into the darkness except Peter. He stayed with Jesus, but hours later was weeping bitter tears of regret when the crowing rooster reminded him of Jesus’ warning that he, too, would deny His Lord. 

Life might have been so different for these men if they had entered deeply into prayer with Jesus that night. But, sadly, they did not.

“Watch and pray!” is still Jesus’ call to us. He knows that our heart’s best intentions can be overcome by drowsiness, by neglect.  If we are prayerful, often with Christ and filled with the Spirit, we will be energized from the inside out, wide awake, and ready for the challenges that will come our way.  There is an amazing power that is found in real prayer.  I am not talking about the half-focused prayers we sometimes offer up or the prayers that are a habit before meals or bedtime. The prayer that empowers is that which draws us into the heart of God, that is intense, honest, and deep!  In that kind of praying the Spirit reveals the mind of God to us.  He lets us ‘see’ from heaven’s perspective.  And, in those moments, ‘the things of earth grow strangely dim in the Light of His glory and grace.’  

Christian, are you awake, alert, and prayed up?
Or, are you a sleepy, drowsy Christian, drifting near danger without being aware of the perils of temptation?

Here’s a word from the Word. Make it a call to prayer today, especially when you feel so sleepy spiritually.

"You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be posted on our calendars.
He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would.

About the time everybody’s walking around complacently, congratulating each other—“We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart.

It’s going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this?

You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others.

Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us!

Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation. "

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-8, The Message)

_____________

Father in heaven, we are sometimes lulled into complacency,

Overtaken by the urgent so that we ignore the important.

Our lives are packed with activity and responsibility; and yes,

We grow weary.

Keep us alert to Your Presence.
Holy Spirit, draw us from the rat race and teach us to listen.

And when we hear Your call strengthen us to answer,
“Yes, Lord. I’ll do what You want me to do.”

May Jesus Christ be honored by our thoughts, words, and actions.

We pray in His holy Name. Amen.