“And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:45-46 ESV)
Nope! No sir! No ma’am! That was not a typing error in the title! I did not leave off the “T” of one of your favorite or at least familiar breakfast “meals” that you grab out of the box before you rush out the door or to take a few steps from the kitchen to your home office, possibly toasting them, but that’s just an option. Really! I didn’t mess up! I meant to type “Pop Arts” and not “Pop Tarts.”
What’s the point? I’ll tell you! If you are still sleepy, lying in your bed or perhaps you are pretty much walking as if still asleep, tottering back and forth like you are doing a John Wayne walk imitation, and you are half awake, stop! As you get ready to start this Wednesday morning, take the advice of Jesus, “Rise and pray that you may not fall into temptation.” You are a good person, but temptation does not discriminate, attacks everyone in ways we consider minor and ways everyone calls major. So rise up and pray!
I know you are hungry, but start this Wednesday, praying to the One who is food when you’re hungry. Don’t put more emphasis on the “Pop Tarts” then you do on the “Pop Arts!” Start this day, if it has not been your habit, with prayer. If you regularly rise every day and pray, good for you! Keep doing what you do! Practice the
“Pop Arts” in the morning. Pray for yourself, pray for others, and please pray for me. And somewhere in your prayer, thank God you did not have to read so many words this morning. Smile! Look, my assignment today was to just focus on the “Pope Arts.” Good news! You can be assured that I already prayed for you this morning! Be blessed!
“ In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3 NIV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King