Prayer: Glorifying and Magnifying God

Prayer is synonymous with and an act of glorifying and magnifying God. A humble prayer brings God's presence and peace, as stated in Scripture: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3, NIV)

Continual Prayer: Jesus’ Advice

Jesus reminds us to pray consistently, as recorded in Scripture: "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41, NIV)

This verse emphasizes Jesus' call to pray continually – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. This leads to an important question: Shouldn't we sleep? Does prayer cease when we sleep? Can we pray while asleep (in deep sleep)? Exploring the answer to this question is essential.

Therefore, I will explore, with biblical references, the relationship between our awakened and sleeping states, soul, and body.

Prayer: Fulfilling God's Desire

Prayer is to fulfil God’s desire, as Jesus’ prayer on the mount of Olives was recorded in scripture: Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:39-42, NIV)

Jesus' Prayer on the Mount of Olives:

Jesus, aware of His impending painful death, retreated to the Mount of Olives soon after the Last Supper. His disciples, however, were oblivious to their Master's anguish, stemming from the unbearable pain of His impending death. Having just participated in the first-ever consecration, they had the privilege of receiving Jesus' body and blood. Yet, they forgot their Master's command, who had just nourished them with His body and blood.

The Disciples' Failure to Pray:

Instead of praying, they fell asleep, as recorded in Scripture: When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. (Luke 22:45-46, NIV)

Reflections on the Disciples' Failure:

This scenario raises several important questions:

1. Why didn't Jesus' disciples obey their Master?
2. Why did they fall asleep instead of praying?
3. Why didn't Jesus empower His disciples to pray as He desired?
4. Is prayer unnecessary after receiving Communion?
5. What caused the disciples' sorrow?
6. Why didn't the disciples feel strengthened after receiving Communion?
7. What kind of sadness led them to sleep?
8. Why were the disciples unable to pray continuously?

Let us reflect, as recorded in Scripture: When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. (Luke 22:45-46, NIV)

Jesus commanded His disciples to pray, but they fell asleep. It's astonishing that those who had just celebrated the divine Last Supper, receiving holy communion, didn't discuss the beauty of that divine environment or thank their Master for the blissful experience. Instead, they fell asleep, neglecting self-reflection and becoming spiritually void.

Let's ponder the following:

Why did the disciples become sad despite being in a divine environment?
Why did they become sad after experiencing a sacred atmosphere?
Unaware of their Master's impending death pain, what caused their sorrow?
What kind of sadness made them spiritually void in Jesus' eyes?
How did sadness consume them immediately after a blissful experience?
What kind of sadness disrupted their prayerful continuity, rendering them spiritually void?

Such sadness is undoubtedly detrimental, as it disrupted the disciples' prayerful continuity. It's essential to understand this sadness deeply. I'll elaborate on this further, as the disciples' sorrow and subsequent sleep forced Jesus to say: “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. (Luke 22:46, NIV)

A True Concern:

The disciples' sleepiness after receiving their first Holy Communion is a matter of grave concern. This scenario highlights the weaknesses of the mortal body. Human nature is inherently drawn to worldly desires. Worldly worries corrupt the soul, disrupting its connection with God's glorification, even when prepared.

The Struggle Between Flesh and Spirit:

As Scripture warns: …. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41, NIV)

I have no hesitation in stating that after the divine celebration of the Last Supper, the disciples' minds became entangled in worldly desires and worries, leading them to sin and causing spiritual voidness during their journey to the Mount of Olives.

The Consequences of Spiritual Neglect:

Consequently, their souls, weighed down by worries, deviated from consistent prayer and glorification of God, as warned in Scripture: For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things. (Wisdom of Solomon 9:15, KJV)

A Call to Vigilance:

Now, let's ponder: why our minds get entangled in worldly affairs and stray from righteousness immediately after participating in sacred rituals like holy mass and prayer meetings. This deviation leads our souls to the sorrow of sin, disrupting their continuity of prayer and glorification of God.

A Warning from Jesus:

Jesus warns not only His disciples but all humanity: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41, NIV) If we fail to remain vigilant, our bodies will succumb to sin, causing our souls to deviate from continuous prayer and glorification of God.

Overcoming Worldly Desires:

The human body, inclined towards lust and worldly desires, causes the soul to slip into sorrow. As a result, both body and soul are barred from glorifying and magnifying God. To prevent the body from easily succumbing to worldly desires, we must undergo a fundamental transformation of our character. As Scripture reminds us: For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. (Luke 12:30, NIV)

The Importance of Continuous Prayer:

Therefore, it's essential to overcome worldly desires and worries through continuous prayer, as advised in Scripture: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41, NIV)

The Dangers of Temptation:

If one is not vigilant, they will inevitably succumb to temptation. Satan appears to have been granted the freedom to deceive humanity. Satan knows that the human body is weak and readily yields to temptation. Satan, consumed by the immense temptation to become God, ceased to glorify the Creator in heaven, blinded by pride.

The Spiritual Battle:

He knows that the human soul is ever-ready to glorify God and can continually pray while living in this world. Consequently, Satan exploits the human body's weakness to hinder its continuous glorification of God. God created human souls for His continuous glorification. To retain the soul's readiness to glorify God, humanity must triumph over worldly weaknesses, as reminded in Scripture: The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. (John 6:63, NIV)

Under the above discussion it is now essential to define prayer.

What is Prayer?

As Scripture reminds us: For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things. (Wisdom of Solomon 9:15, KJV)

The Body's Weakness:

As Scripture reminds us: For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things. (Wisdom of Solomon 9:15, KJV)

The Power of Repentance:

Seeking forgiveness with true repentance is prayer. When someone repents truly, they bring readiness to the soul, enabling it to resume its duty to continually magnify and glorify God, as warned in Scripture: I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. (Luke 13:3, NIV)

The Value of True Repentance:

There is no prayer more valuable than true repentance, as it brings eternal life —a life transformed from untruth to truth. It helps the soul resume God's continual glorification and magnification.

Conclusion:

To keep the body under control, preventing it from being consumed by its weaknesses, is prayer. In essence, life is synonymous with prayer. It involves controlling the body, preventing it from being overcome by its weaknesses. Secondly, if the body is consumed by its weaknesses, seeking forgiveness with true repentance is prayer.

The Continual Nature of Prayer:

Thus, prayer is a continuous process - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. As Scripture declares: everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. (Isaiah 43:7, NIV)

Therefore, we are all listed in His book of accounts, created for His unceasing magnification and glorification.

Continuing Our Journey:

As we explore the concept of continuous prayer, we will delve deeper into understanding the human body and soul and how to unceasingly glorify our Lord God in this life and life after.

To be Continued…..

==> Stay tuned for our next article, where we'll uncover how 'What is Prayer? (Part-XI)’ that transforms our faith journey.

Amen!

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