Maintaining a relationship

Luke 22:45-46 (NLT)
45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

Jesus had warned the disciples with these words, “Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.” Jesus had even looked at Simon Peter and said, “I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus was directly telling Simon Peter he was going to sin, but he would repent and turn back to strengthen the other disciples. Even with this knowledge the disciples ignored the warning and slept as Jesus prayed. The response from Jesus was, “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

Prayer is the means by which we communicate with God. Can you imagine having a relationship with anyone that you were not in communication with? Over time the relationship would decay as we lost the importance of whom the person is and who we are to that person. There must be communication in order to maintain a healthy relationship. Our relationship with God works the same way. We must spend time talking to Him in prayer. We need to express our feelings and talk about our life. We must also listen to His desires, which require us to remain silent at times. God wants the best for us, but we cannot know the best without knowing which direction God wants us to go. Follow the words of Jesus and “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” God is waiting for us as He always does.