How Jesus Prayed | EP 140

Welcome to iRefresh, where we talk about the impact of prayer and God's Word. Welcome to another episode of iRefresh, and we have been talking all things about prayer. And so my friends, Carrie Kinninger and Veronica Scott and myself, Cheryl Clare, we have enjoyed all things, the topics, so many great scriptures on prayer, and really, what does it mean to us? And one of the things we've been focusing on is how Jesus modeled prayer for us. And really, you think, oh, haven't we been talking about that? We could talk about Jesus every single day. Well, we should be talking about Jesus every single day. And really, He is the one that we want to model. He's the one that we need to follow. And so I love how there are so many examples. Yes. His 33 years of life here on this earth, there are so many examples of him in prayer because he knew the power of prayer. So, you know, before he went to the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane, he actually prayed three times. Father, if it's possible. would you remove this cup from me? But he kept going back to, but not my will, but yours be done. So I love how Jesus, he knew the temptation of wanting the difficulty to be removed. He knew the temptation of... This is going to be so painful, not only to be crucified, but to be mocked and to be rejected and to lose all that he had known for those 33 years of fellowship with his friends and his family. So it was painful for him. It was painful for him. Yes. But in that same passage in Matthew 26, he says in verse 41, Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. So again, Jesus knew he was human. He was fully God, fully man. So he knew what it was to feel weak. He knew what it was. So somehow prayer empowered him to do the will of God. Yes. And what I like about that, Carrie, is we know that prayer helps build up our spirit. Yes. The Bible tells us that. And so in entering into prayer, we're feeding our spirit to make it stronger so that it can overcome the flesh. Yes. If we just were to feed the flesh, then the flesh would be more powerful than our spirit, and therefore we would be disappointed. Yes. Because we would be following the flesh. Mm-hmm. But I love that scripture because that means so much that entering into prayer, and like you said, we should be talking about Jesus every single day. We should be praying every single day. And when we do, we are feeding our spirit, giving it the nourishment that it needs to get us through the next cycle. Absolutely. It might not be a battle. It might just be a decision. But we need our spirit to be strong. And one way is definitely prayer. Absolutely. And I love that Jesus shows us that, right, as we've talked. But here he's saying, now you watch and pray. So that word watch, it's being attentive to the things around us. You know, I remember as a little girl being in the car and there was an accident on the side of the road and my mom pulled over and she prayed for these people. You know, so she was alert to a need that somebody had. And I always remember that as this little girl that my mom cared about these people she didn't even know. But she knew the power of prayer. She knew the power of the Holy Spirit within her. And she wanted to go. and offer help before the ambulance came. And she wasn't a nurse, but a way she could offer help was by praying for them. So even that to be watchful and to be ready to be a person of prayer, no matter what we see going on around us. Have you all ever experienced that where you... You're looking intentionally, right? Yes. I mean, if we create that relationship that the Lord is wanting us to have, that constant communion with him and through the prayer, it says that he wants to guide us. So if the Psalm says in 23 that he is our shepherd and he really does truly want to lead us, why is it we are surprised when he gives us an opportunity? It says if we're watchable, right? Today we call it living intentionally. So if we live intentionally, the same way to me I see it is in the scriptures way of watching. I'm watching for the opportunity where the Lord wants to use us to whether it's stopping and praying or serving or just listening. Sometimes the power of us listening to someone and where they're hurting speaks volumes because... I think we're in a world because we've gotten so isolated by our phone and everything else, and you feel like, oh, I'm so connected, but yet we can be so detached from people. Yes. That sometimes when you are face-to-face or even on a phone and you're listening to someone and acknowledging whatever they're saying on the other side, that to me is you're looking for the opportunity the Lord wants you to have just to Listen, make sure they're feeling heard, and then we can speak life into them. Yes. Not negate what they're saying, but sometimes they need that word of encouragement with whatever they're sharing with us. Absolutely. And just for me, like seeing the stories of Jesus and the way that He moved and walked on the earth, that He was looking, like the woman at the well. Everybody else just kind of going on there. But he noticed her. He invited her into conversation. There was a watchfulness there. And, you know, Zacchaeus, you come down. You know, I'm going to go to your house today. As long as pathway. Right. But it wasn't even like it says, my needs must go through Sumerian. Yes. So, right, isn't it because that was where the Jews always went around that town because, right, they didn't care for those people. Right. Back then, I guess that would be a prejudice. But Jesus intentionally went through to make sure that he would meet the woman there, that he was willing to listen to them and acknowledge them. Yes. He was shocked that, you know. Why are you talking to me? Did you forget who I am? Isn't that great, though, that the Lord is very watchful of the opportunities to negate what the world says? Yes. And I think that's where we also can learn from is it's not what the world says. Right. That he wants us to be loved, to be a listener, and we don't have to speak judgment. We just have to be what they said. You know, God is love, therefore he wants us to love. That doesn't mean I'm going to accept someone's sinful life. Right. But I'm not the one that's going to judge it. I'm just going to be the one where I'm going to comply with what the Lord is telling me to do. And I'm going to acknowledge you. You know, what Jesus so often would acknowledge someone. True. Sometimes he would heal them. Right. Sometimes he would say, well, if you just repent and then be healed. So often there's so much variety that the Lord was always showing us examples, how he loved people, right, from different things that he would do for them to receive their healing. Yes, yes. Absolutely. So true. So for us to be watchful of others and how even Jesus here in this passage was watchful of His own spirit. Like He knew that there was this tension going on. He knew there was this temptation to not fulfill His call. And aren't we so glad that He submitted His will to the Father? And so for even us to be watchful of our own hearts, to be watchful of our own thoughts, to be watchful of where... what we're allowing into our homes, what we're allowing into our ears and our eyes. Absolutely. And so let's talk about that a little bit, just even watchfulness. What does that look like in our own lives as we watch and pray? I like the way that you said, you know, watchful, just paying attention to what comes into our home. Yes. You know, we don't realize, but we create an atmosphere in our home for all those that enter into our home to be under that covering. Right. And so if we're not careful and we allow the enemy, the world system, you know, there's so many things operating in our world today. You know, there's a lust. There's a love of money. There's a, you know, disobedience. There's rebellion. There's so many things. And if we're not careful and we allow those things to come into our home, it will affect those in our home. Yes, yes. So, you know, we have to be watchful over what do we allow? Because like you said before, it's intentional, but we also have to choose. Do we allow this or do we say, no, this is not coming in our home? And then the Lord will honor us for standing up for him by saying no. And then we invite the Holy Spirit. Right. This is your dwelling place. Let you be in this place. Let people that come in here acknowledge and experience you. So much more important. That's so good. And that's really, you know, that's my idea of intentional is making a choice to say in my, for me in my house, not only are we going to serve the Lord, but we're going to make a place for him. We're going to allow our home to be his habitation. And then we're going to yield to him and find out what does he, like you said earlier, be intentional. Lord, what do you want us to do today? You know, there are so many times when he could use us, but we're too busy. Yes. Because we didn't take the time to say, what do you have for me today? Mm-hmm. You know, I remember early on when Cheryl and I had an early conversation and she was sharing with me how she would go to run her errands and the Lord would just allow her to minister to maybe a checker at Target or wherever. Just a smile, just an encouraging word meant so much. And she saw Jesus every day. That's beautiful. And that just was such an encouragement to me because, of course, I thought, well, if Cheryl can do it, I can do it. Mm-hmm. But it's intentional. Yeah. Well, and it's, you know, back in the day, people would hold the door open for others. Right. Or like, you know, you see someone with a, you know, a toddler and a baby carrier. And, you know, you think, I can wait two more minutes here and hold the door for them and help them in. And so I know that's a silly example. But part of that is just being someone who's not just watching out for myself. Good point. But I'm watching out for others, and I'm watching out for—when I'm watching out for myself, it's not just for my best interest, but it's for, Lord, what do you want to do in me? And for me, that watchfulness is just even allowing— what's peaceful in my home? Am I constantly having to get the last word? Am I argumentative? Because there's a temptation to be the one like, I'm always right. Or if it's not, it's my way or the highway, right? We recently had some out-of-town guests and we hadn't seen them in about 15 years. They were in our home, and they just said, your home is so peaceful. That's the biggest compliment to me. I agree. I don't have to have the best decor, the best food. But for them to say, your home is peaceful, was a huge compliment. I agree. Because that's the peace of the Lord in our home. That's right. But Veronica, I think you were saying— I have a part in that by what I choose to allow in, but what I choose also to allow out of my mouth. That's very good. Good point. You know, I think we're in a day where I think when, you know, Veronica, you're talking about you're allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you. That is so key. So that, you know, and Carrie, that was a lot of work for someone to compliment you on the peace of the Lord being in that room. Yes. That meant it wasn't just a one day or a month. You know, it's been an ongoing place where you practice the presence of the Lord. You're practicing being in his presence and not allowing anything contrary to God's character. Yes. And I think, though, too, for all of us, that place where we're being watchful is when you go into different places. You know, there's times where I've had to leave a movie or there's something that didn't settle with me or sometimes on TV, I'm like, okay, I have to stop. This is not acceptable for me. And I think sometimes it's so, there's a problem I think that we can have, though, too, is that You can get legalistic with it. Right. Right. So they're like, okay, I cannot. I remember back in the day when you're like, oh, I have to get rid of all of my secular albums. You know, way back when. I remember that. I was like, oh, now it's like, I wish I still had that, you know, that Sean Cassidy, you know. And... I think, you know, it's really – sometimes there's a heart, like definitely God's doing a heart surgery on me, and he's really wanting to find out, who do you serve? Right. Am I going to serve my desires and my way and my will? Oh, I really want to go. I really want to do this. But sometimes I notice when I've been in a place where I just – I feel heaviness of the Spirit, and I just want to be away from that space, too. And I think when you're talking about, Carrie, about being watchful, sometimes there's just places in the presence where you just don't feel like, yes, the Lord is greater in me than whatever I'm sensing in the world. But sometimes I just want to be, okay, if I'm not useful here, do I need to be here? Because I think also the enemy also can use, if I'm going to be weak and not surrender to the Lord to lead me, do harm in being in a place and position myself where it's more of a compromise. Yeah. Because I may not have enough strength. Right. I may think I do. Right. You know, it's when they're like, well, good, my friends are going. So, you know, that means I should be able to go. But for now, whatever God called you to, it is just like when somebody's fasting, certain things are like... I'm not called to fast for that. Right? You're like, don't convict me, right? It's up to the Holy Spirit, because if we're watching for the Holy Spirit to lead us, what is he telling me to surrender? What am I supposed to put my Isaac on the altar? And it will totally look different. Your Isaac and my Isaac might be different, but the Lord knows in this time in my life, maybe I'm supposed to surrender my time of doing certain things. Because he wants to really hone in and cause me to really dive deep into something. Or I'm praying through with something that's a lot of spiritual warfare. Yeah. So he's trying to protect us. When he's talking about, I believe, in one space of being watchful is our protection. That's good, Cheryl. I was just thinking as you were talking that, you know, each of us have had children. And so there was a time many years ago that we were each pregnant. And when you're pregnant, there's just certain things that you cannot do. Right. But that's for a season. It's not a forever. And so I think sometimes the Lord calls us in, tucks us in a little closer, not closer as in we're not close if we're not being tucked in, but just almost to say, hey, there's some things I want to work on here. There's some things I want to strengthen in you. And maybe in that time, we lay some things aside so that... We can receive all of that, but then that's lifted. And there's a time then to maybe listen to that secular album and it's okay. But there are seasons that he has us to fast certain things because there's something he's birthing in us, something that he's doing in us. And he knows that that is a healthier place for us to be able to receive all that he has for us. Does that make sense? something, not about what we're getting. And what you just explained is, you know, sometimes he's got something that he wants to give us that we need to be in a new position. Yes. And the fasting puts us in that position. That's really good. That's really good. Surrender, I heard. I didn't say surrender. But you know what? You know, sometimes the surrender initially is painful. Oh, sure. Just like dieting is painful. Oh, yes. But we do like the end result. And I think we've talked about sometimes it is a temporary thing, but God might, it might be something where I notice the more that I get closer to him, I really want less and less of the things of the world. I agree. It doesn't mean that we're supposed to be in the world, which I think the scriptures you were sharing too is we're supposed to be in that world, but yet God's going to protect us. Yes. But there is times where the Lord's going to maybe call us into a place for a long season of time. And it's not us trying to figure it out. And it's not us to negotiate. Right. It's just about, okay, well, Lord, whatever you have for me, I want all that you have for me. Yes. Oh, so true. Absolutely. So true. So here, the Spirit is willing. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. This is Matthew 26, 41. But the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. How many times have you... I thought, oh, I'm going to do such and such, whether it be a fast, whether it be asking for forgiveness or whatever. And we're in that moment in church, and we're like, yes, Lord, I'm going to do that. Or we're in our quiet time, and it just sounds almost a little easier. Yes, this is what I'm going to do. And then we get out there. It's like... Did I really commit to that? Because all of a sudden, the flesh kicks in. Sure. And I don't want to do it anymore. Have you ever experienced that? That's so true. And a lot of times what will happen is when we're in church, we're gung-ho. We're ready. Absolutely. But then we go to work the next day, and our environment is different. And suddenly that thing that was so important yesterday, today is not quite as important. I'll get to it later. purposeful of that commitment that we made at church during the anointing, during the service, during the worship. That was, we have to recognize we're in the presence of the Lord. And when he deals with us with something, it doesn't matter if we're still in that house or if we've gone elsewhere. It's the same commitment. That's good. And I wonder if that very, going back to that very first part of that verse, watch and pray. So that whole thing of when we're being watchful, when we're in prayer, we're feeding our spirits, right? So that when the flesh comes in to tempt. So here Jesus had... had been this fully God, fully man, walked this earth for those 33 years and was a person of prayer. So that when that time came to go to the cross and there was this temptation to, I don't know, are you sure, Father? Is this the way? So his flesh was coming in, but yet he'd been feeding his spirit. Oh, sure. That's good. And so he was able, because he had been watchful, because he had been a person of prayer, he was able to withstand that flesh wanting to come in and tempt. So I love how he brings that back to the disciples. Now you watch and pray. Oh. You watch and pray, just as you've seen me wrestle here and watch and pray. And in this, the disciples kept falling asleep, remember? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Sorry. Yeah. Good intentions. Yes, good intentions. And you feel bad for them. Exactly. You're like, oh, man. Right. I'm like, let's pinch each other. You know, you kind of, you feel sad for Jesus, but the other disciples kind of be like, come on, we've got to help him. You know, I think. Don't we do that in life though? Absolutely. It's like everything we intend to do, spiritually or in our physical, like exercising. You know, you're always like, okay, I'm going to wait until the beginning of the year, beginning of the month, so I can eat better. I'm going to eat healthier or I'm going to exercise more. I think it's that same flavor of sometimes is our intentions don't match up if we don't start with little baby steps. You know, I think when we see, like you've talked about, Carrie, about Jesus was always modeling. Yes. We saw that in Mark, you know, one and two is we saw a pattern that Jesus would early go to be with the Father early in the morning. So he was constantly before the Lord to help. to prepare him for whatever was gonna be in his day, he was being watched and he was praying. So whatever he would face, the demonic manifestations, you know, took authority over it. Everything was preparation early in the morning in order to be able to withstand whatever he would go through. And I think at the same light here that Jesus is so good to give us those examples of trying to teach us, even the disciples. We're just like the disciples. Every one of the personalities like, Yes. You know, I like, I have good intentions, but you know, as soon as I would judge like, oh, what's wrong with you, Peter? I'm like, you know, when I was younger or whatever, you're like, you know, they had my idea of denying Peter. But you know, I remember when you're young and there's all those pressures you have as a teenager or what have you, like, it would be hard to like witness to someone. Right, right. Or, you know, first time people offer you to do stuff, you're like, whoo. You don't want to say no, but you're like, you're totally not going to. But I think we're all in a day and age where whatever it is, it's our challenge. Even as we grow closer to the Lord, we're still going to have something we're challenged by, even like our attitude. You know, my attitude is watching my attitude because I'm not going to glorify God. And then I'm going to be a bad witness to my family typically first. Yeah. And I'm like, what just came out of my mouth? I'm like, you know, I'm like, I've done this, you know. I'm like, Lord, forgive me. And it causes us to be in a place of humility. Yes. To repent. And Lord, help me. Help me to be more intentional when I don't have my right attitude. Even I can read the Word. But if I don't allow it to renew me, I'm going through the motions. But I'm not giving him place in my heart to be able to lead me. Yes, yes. That's so good. That is a good point. I'm thinking here with that word watch. This is lost on us a little bit in our society, but they used to have what they called watchmen on the wall. Yes. Right? And you don't want a watchman on the wall to be falling asleep. Good point. That's true. My dad was an officer in the military. He was a pilot. And, you know, sometimes he'd have to sleep during the day because he would do night flying. You know, so you really would make yourself sleep during the day because you knew you needed to be alert when that darkness came in. And so I think here where Jesus is saying here for us to be watchful, we need to rest when he says rest. Yes. And so I always think we don't want to be battling when he says we should be resting. And we don't want to be resting when he says, I want you contending in prayer right now. And so this time with Jesus there in the Garden of Gethsemane, it was a time that he was saying to the disciples, I need you. I need you battling with me in prayer. And so there's a time to rest. And there's a time to battle in prayer. And I think sometimes when I'm really contending for something, I may just have a couple of days that there's just a lot of wrestle and prayer over that. But then the Lord lives that because you can't be in that state 24-7. Right. They took turns being the watchman on the wall in that time. And so I think even for us to realize, to bring this back to Jesus, He never sleeps or slumbers. So that we can, at the end of the day, we can lay our heads down on that pillow and rest and sleep, knowing that He is still praying for us. He is still that watchman waiting for just to see what's happening so that He can be contending in prayer for us as well. That's so powerful. I think as we're concluding here, Matthew is such a great, in Matthew 26, I just to reiterate that Jesus is making a way. Yes. He is really there to guide us, to help us, and it's always he's wanting to protect. It's all about protecting us. He knows our heart and our desires for Him. And when we fail, there's where we talk about the mercies and the goodness of the Lord that we can confess. And then we can try again the next day. And that's where I think I hope that you will be encouraged, those that are out there listening, is that the Lord's wanting to give you warning signs because He knows what the enemy is trying to do to try to distract us through our busy lives and keep us from being with Him in His presence and in His Word. And so... Let's defeat that, that thought, and let's be careful to watch, to pray, to talk to Him, and ask Him, even meditating on one scripture a day, if that's the beginning of your day, that is a place where you will gain victory. So we want to encourage you is be mindful, be watchful, continually have that conversation with the Lord to continue to be strong in the Lord.