Stay Awake

 Stay Awake

How do I stay awake to what Jesus wants to do within me in a world that wants to lull me to sleep?

“They came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” Mark 14:32

The disciples walked with Jesus. So close to him listening to the words of the Father. Watching Jesus perform miracles, healings, and they saw lives that had been transformed. The time was coming for Jesus to go to the cross and he said, “Sit here while I pray. Remain here and stay awake.” Even hearing those words that Jesus was distressed and troubled and grieved brings pictures to my mind of what he was about to take on and asking the Father to take from him and the Bible says his next words were, “Neverless, not what I will, but what you will.” Jesus was asking the disciples to stay awake and pray for their sake not his. The Son of Man was going to the cross. There was no other way for redemption except the cross. And just like those disciples couldn’t stay awake my spirit is willing but my flesh is so weak and I forget that power within me. The Living God’s plan was redeeming us and giving us that FULL power. 

Stay awake. The enemy is hoping we will just fall asleep and forget. He is hoping we just stop praying. And when those prayers aren’t answered he is hoping we stop all that craziness of following Jesus. I can hear his mocking voice sometimes, “Really aren’t you going to give up?” or “You really think that is even worth asking?” Jesus chose the cross so we could let go of that old life and receive a new life. A life that chooses to remain and stay awake even as everything pulls at us to go to sleep.

“Jesus will not be an add-on to our lives. He will be everything, or nothing.” Caleb Mathis 

Do you know how close the Father desires to be to you? 

He can’t be just a addition to my life. The Holy Spirit in me is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave. Making him everything is allowing His Presence to bring me so close that there won’t be distance to hear his voice and follow him. Jesus lived in the Spirit’s power. I am called to do the same. 

Abba,

Don’t let us fall asleep and forget our Kingdom purpose. Holy Spirit give us hearts to be fully devoted to you, not half hearted. You don’t want that because you desire all of us. Remind us to lean in and listen and follow you Jesus.

Awaken our hearts and minds to hear from you. 

Amen