Did you make any resolutions for 2013? Okay, now the convicting question, are you keeping them? Whether 2012 was a fruitful year for you, a dry, challenging season, or somewhere in between, the new year offers a fresh start—a new beginning filled with a renewed sense of hope for the future. However, our 2013 won’t look much different from past years unless we make some changes. Resolutions are often our way of acknowledging the aspects of our lives that need a little tweaking.
This year, I made a resolution to live life more fully renewed and spiritually refreshed through a greater commitment to prayer. Would you consider joining me in my quest to become stronger and more fully devoted to Jesus than ever before?
I must caution you that is just the kind of commitment the apostle Peter claimed to have before he denied His Lord three times.
Check out this adapted excerpt from my new Bible study on Peter—Eyewitness to Majesty: Abandoning Self for Christ:
“You will all fall away,” Jesus told them…”But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” –Mark 14:27-30
Peter was claiming greater allegiance to Jesus than that of all the other disciples. Just like many of us, Peter desperately wanted to be strong and fully devoted to Jesus. His spirit was willing, but his flesh was overwhelmingly weak.
Peter didn’t realize a test of his commitment was coming. Satan had asked to sift him like wheat. Grain is purified by sifting. In Jesus’ day, the grain was placed into large sieves that were shaken vigorously, allowing the grain to pass through. Undesirable pieces or weeds were left behind. I believe a sifting by Satan occurs when everything in our lives is shaken to the point where we have nothing to cling to except our faith, but trials of any kind can bring about some level of spiritual sifting. We come through those circumstances stronger and some weeds, such as discontentment or pride, have often been sifted away.
Just before Jesus was arrested and then crucified on the cross, the Son of God knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed to His Father in such agony that He was sweating blood.
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” –Mark 14:37-38
Jesus was not just informing Peter of his weakness. Jesus Himself was being tempted to flee the cross. His spirit was willing, but His flesh was weak. Jesus gained the strength He needed to overcome His flesh through prayer. If Jesus needed to pray to overcome temptation, don’t you think we should do the same?
Jesus’ sorrow overwhelmed Him to the point of death. Yet He was able to pray, “Not what I will, but what You will.” He got up from that prayer time strong and in total submission to God’s will. In contrast, Peter slept and rested while Jesus prayed. He had emphatically proclaimed he would not fall away. He wasn’t prepared for the sifting about to take place in his life. Jesus had warned him, yet Peter wasn’t listening. His spirit truly was willing, but his flesh was tragically weak. Copyright © 2013 AMG Publishers, All Rights Reserved.
If Jesus needed to pray to overcome His flesh, we cannot possibly overcome temptation without prayer. Like Peter, our spirits may be willing, but our flesh is tragically weak.
To make prayer a priority this year, I’m setting two alarms to make sure I get up early enough to have my prayer time each morning. I’m also posting a prayer on my author Facebook page every Monday morning for accountability and to pray regularly with other believers. And finally, I’m meeting with three other women once a month for a time of focused prayer.
If you’re making a greater commitment to prayer, what are you doing to make that pledge a reality? Let’s live 2013 more fully renewed and spiritually refreshed—together.
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Thanks for this wonderful post, Mindy, with your emphasis on prayer. In January of 1996, after years of starts and stops, I finally determined to have a consistent time in God’s word and prayer. By April, God turned that sense of duty into pure delight, and I am so grateful. It’s the sweetest part of my day, spending time with the One who loves me most. The practice has been life changing for me in every realm. Now I can’t imagine starting my day any other way, as it has allowed me time to get to know my Lord in ways I never thought possible. Nothing better than that!
Thanks for sharing, Judy. It is, indeed, the sweetest part of the day. May He continue to bless your consistency, bringing forth abundant fruit as you continue to abide in our Lord (John 15)!
I just finished reading another book stating, “The secret of living Him…has something to do with the matter of watching, of watchfulness..Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” In this verse the word weak means sleepy. ..When the Lord Jesus told them to watch, He meant, don’t sleep! Wake up! According to the context, it means their spirit was willing, but their flesh was sleepy and weak. So this matter of being watchful must be a habit. How do you stay watchful? By petitioning. Prayer is a general thing; petition is a special particular thing. You have to watch unto the general prayer by special petition.” May I continue to be watchful and praying with petition in order to live out Christ to the people I encounter.
Great comments. Thanks!
Today I had a discussion with a vistor at church and we discussed temptations of the flesh and doubting Jesus and his promise that whatever we speak in his name he would do. I am a strong believer that Jesus, if given the chance, will stick to his word. It’s our own fear that will keep us from suceeding. I was scared to finish a novel because I thought I wasn’t good enough to be a writer but the more I prayed on it, the more strenghth and confidence was bestowed upon me. I still have a ways to go but I believe in constant prayer. Its how we build that intimacy with God and through trails we build our faith.
When I read your comment, Tedra, I immediately thought of the description of the apostles from Acts 1:14 where it says, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Constantly in prayer… Good stuff!