In These End-Times, Pray More Than Ever

As believers and followers of Yeshua Hamashiach, our prayers are needed now more than ever.

Following recent events, both locally and globally, I wanted to write about something that could help someone. Inspiration arrived in the form of the latest newsletter from Arris Charles of Live Inspired By Purpose and the blog post by Neeba Abraham of Grace In Letters.

Arris and Neeba talk about how prayer is essential in our lives, helping us remain faithful during these turbulent times. Their insights resonated with me because I’ve experienced first-hand the vital role prayer plays in my life and faith.

Watch and pray

In his painting titled ‘Agony In The Garden’, Giuseppe Cesare depicts Yeshua’s sorrow and distress in prayer while His disciples slept. Heinrich Hoffman’s painting focuses solely on Yeshua. Matthew records this in chapter 26 verses 36 to 36 of the Gospel. Our Lord and Saviour, Yeshua Hamashiach, prayed three times for the same thing at the Garden of Gethsemane. Neeba writes that just as Yeshua prayed and prayed again for something He knew would not be changed, that God wouldn’t change, shouldn’t that prompt us, His followers, to follow His example and pray, and pray again for what we struggle with?

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Matthew 26:39 NKJV

Prayer was a vital part of Yeshua’s ministry, and even now He intercedes for us as our High Priest. Praying, then, should gird our daily life, upon waking to when we retire to bed at night, for to pray is to give whatever ails, confuses, troubles, and scares us into God’s hands and allows Him to work His way in us.

Are you still sleeping and resting?

I’m persuaded that the questions Yeshua asked anyone He met are the same He is asking us even now. After He agonised in prayer in Gethsemane, He returned to where His disciples were and asked them a question that should alert us to remain ever vigilant, especially now when the signs of His return are clearer than ever.

Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, he who betrays Me, is at hand.”

Matthew 26:45-46 NKJV

Are you still sleeping and resting? Are you tired of all the pain and suffering in your life, and around the world? Are you losing hope?

Let Yeshua’s promise that He will return be your road sign to hold on, keep praying, and keep watching for Him.

Resources

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To help you in your journey, read more of my posts on prayer here. Share your prayer requests here.

Read the Bible every day to ignite and sustain your faith.

Write your prayers in a journaling Bible or a prayer journal to help you articulate them, and read them to Almighty God during your quiet time with Him.

In addition to my regular diary, I use a King James Version (KJV) journaling Bible, like this Bright Pink Faux Leather Hardcover KJV My Creative Bible (see above image), to record my deeply personal and private prayers, which are mostly about my life, faith, and family.

I read from a New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible published by Thomas Nelson for my daily reading, and I use a New International Version Zondervan Study Bible, like this one, to learn more about the history of the places and books of the Bible.

My regular diary is a simple, locally produced, 1B5-sized (about 255mm x 205mm), blue-lined school exercise book. They’re available in 80, 100, 160, 200 or 250 pages, and range in prices from FJ$0.75 to FJ$3. I use the 250-page one because I have more pages to write on. To keep them in relatively good condition, I cover them with gift wraps that have interesting patterns or a colourful self-adhesive book cover. I’ll share more about my diary and writing practice in a later post.

I hope that you remain faithful in prayer and reading God’s Word each day. May the grace of our Lord and Saviour, Yeshua Hamashiach, be with you.

Images from After Giuseppe Cesari, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons and by Heinrich Hofmann – Self-scanned by User:JGHowes from 1945 print published by the Board of Trustees, Riverside Church, New York, NY, Public Domain, Link