Luke 22:40 - Prayer and Following Jesus.

Luke 22:40; Prayer and Following Jesus.

Luke 22:40 (KJV)  And when he was at the place, he said unto 
them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 

Prayerlessness Comes Before A Fall
Temptation is tough. It's a test. It's an enticement to do 
wrong. It may involve great pleasure, a chance to escape risk, or 
illegitimate gain. Whatever the offering, it's usually attractive. 
But Scripture calls giving in to tempting opportunities sin. It 
even warns us that repeatedly giving way to temptation can result in 
falling away permanently with a total loss of interest in returning to 
God (Heb. 6:6-8, according to one interpretation). Clearly we need 
God's strength, and wisdom to flee (1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Tim. 6:11). 
As Jesus and His closest companions faced great danger, they 
were afraid and tired (w. 42-45). Jesus knew how vulnerable and 
confused that condition can make a person. He urged His followers to join 
Him in prayer so that they would not fall into temptation (v. 40). 
They could not face the trials to come without new strength from 
God. 
Earlier Jesus had taught His followers to ask the Father not to 
lead them into temptation (Matt. 6:13). There is no sin in being 
tempted. In fact, temptation is a sign that our spiritual lives are 
strong enough to recognize values that conflict with godliness. But 
giving in is sin. That's why it's crucial to take time to declare to 
God our weakness, weariness, and need for help in the midst of 
testing. 
It may also help to have others pray with us, just as Jesus did 
in His hour of need. Do you have others you can turn to for prayer 
in times of difficulty? Are you available when others have that 
need? [Word In Life SB] 

Follow Closely In His Steps
The Bible does not say Peter failed to follow Jesus after His 
arrest; it says he failed to follow closely. When we follow Jesus 
closely, we can hear His voice and sense His Presence. When we 
deliberately put distance between us, we hear only the clamor of the 
opposition and lose sight of God Himself! It is then that we panic as Peter 
did, and we end up failing both Jesus and ourselves. 
If we are to keep near the Lord, we must keep praying. Earlier 
that night, Jesus had taken His men to the beautiful Garden of 
Gethsemane. Jesus particularly asked Peter, James, and John to watch and 
pray with Him as He battled out His last agony of submission to the 
Father's will. The Lord knew the Cross was just around the corner. 
But the garden was so peaceful, it was hard to believe the need 
to watch and pray. The smell of flowers and the soft, sweet night 
breezes lulled the tired disciples to sleep. 
Very few of us pray before trouble comes. Most of us wait until 
the soldiers arrive on the scene; the arrests are made, the trial is 
in progress, and. the cross is in sight before we get around to 
praying. But the problem is that no one prays well on the way to the 
cross! The praying must be done beforehand, when Gethsemane is peaceful 
and the trauma is yet to come: If we fail to be fortified by prayer, 
we will not do well when Judas arrives - or when we find ourselves 
at a charcoal fire, surrounded by a hostile crowd. 
Before - not after - is the critical time to pray. Therefore, 
says Jesus, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into 
temptation" (Luke 22:46). Jill Briscoe [Passages Of Life SB] 

Some mercies are not given to us except in answer to importunate 
prayer. Charles H. Spurgeon [Spirit Filled Life Devotional SB]