“Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:46 ESV).
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, just moments before His betrayal and arrest. Though He was in deep agony over what lay before Him, He turned to His disciples and found them sleeping. Twice He had urged them to pray so that they would not enter into temptation (vv. 40, 46). Jesus knew that a time of intense testing was coming, not only for Himself but for them. Peter would soon deny Him. The others would scatter. Their failure to watch and pray left them spiritually unprepared. Jesus’ words echo the petition in the Lord’s Prayer that He had taught them: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
How often are we like the disciples, physically present but spiritually asleep? We are surrounded by daily temptations: to fear, to doubt, to lust, to speak harshly, to forget God, to live for self. Jesus knows the weakness of our flesh and calls us to rise and pray. Prayer is not just a means of request; it is a means of protection, a spiritual preparation, and a posture of dependence. If we neglect it, we are leave ourselves vulnerable. If we embrace it, we are strengthened.
Jesus didn’t tell His disciples to fight temptation with willpower or cleverness—He told them to pray. In moments of testing, we must learn to turn to God before we turn to sin. We pray not only to resist evil, but to remain close to the Father. Let us not sleep through the battle. Let us be awake and praying.
PRAYER: Dear Father, awaken our hearts. Forgive us for the times we have grown spiritually drowsy and failed to pray. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Teach us to be watchful and dependent on You. Strengthen us in the moments when trials come, and help us to cling to You in prayer. May we remain awake and ready to follow You faithfully. In Jesus’ name, Amen.