Praying the Same Words

   

Still Brewing 

Philippians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 12:2, Hebrews 10:14, Colossians 3:10, 2 Peter 3:18

☕ Justified in CHRIST and continually being sanctified - we are still brewing! ☕

Still Brewing: Coffee #16

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Hello, friends! Happy Tuesday! I miss regular blogging. LORD willing, I can get back on schedule! Today I have a short blog on what stuck out to my Dad and I during our study in Mark.

"And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words." - Mark 14:35-39

Verse 39 jumped out to me. "And again HE went away and prayed, saying the same words." There have been many times I wonder if my repeated prayers and praying the same thing multiple times, is me just being "lazy." If using the same words is not digging deeper or trying to find something "new" or "fresh" to give to our LORD. I wonder if my prayers for the same thing is me being too fixated on that, rather than looking for more things to pray for.

But, we see here that in the same night, our LORD JESUS prayed for the same thing, using the same words, three times. (Matthew 26:44) 

We know that prayer is about our heart, not the words. So, it is quite silly to think that repeating our prayers over and over is a bad thing. That theme is all over Scripture. 

--> Some examples: Psalm 29; 42; 107; 119; 136; Joshua 6:15-16

"'When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously." - Daniel 6:10

Daniel is such a perfect example for this! He did the prayer times, like he normally did, which were specific prayers. It is about the heart and the persistence. 

Persistence is also an important key! JESUS told Peter, told us, to watch and pray so we may not enter into temptation. And also that our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak. How do we combat this? Prayer. Our flesh is weak, so we have to do something about it! 

When our heart is wanting to pray to the LORD, and not for selfish gain, praying the same thing over and over is a beautiful thing that honors HIS Name and equips our weak flesh by having our mind focused on CHRIST. 

Let us persistently pray to the LORD; and know it is a beautiful thing to pray the same words, just like our LORD JESUS did.

"praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints," - Ephesians 6:18

"So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again." 

- Matthew 26:44

LORD willing, see you all for our next cup of coffee together! 

- Sabina