FAITH CAPSULE: Having a death sentence carried out by the enemy is not the time for sleeping.

Luke 22:1-46

After the institution of the Lord’s Supper; after the disciples contend about Greatness (attempting to know which of them should be considered the greatest); after Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial, Jesus’ disciples followed Him to Mount of Olives. “When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:40)  By virtue of the disciples’ experiences with Jesus, one would have expected a vigorous prayer from the disciples but they fell asleep instead of praying. It is written, “When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.” (Luke 22:45) In the face of wickedness of this world, a believer that replaces prayer time for sleeping is sleeping for sorrow. Does that sound like you?
Paul the apostle and Silas were locked up under a well secured prison. While it was midnight, they resulted to praying and singing hymns to God. They did not sleep from sorrow and heaven attended to them for their deliverance. As a believer, when praying becomes your custom, sleeping from sorrow sleep shall have no place in your life. Peter had a sorrowful sleep. Having a death sentence carried out by the enemy is not the time for sleeping. Peter slumbered and slept when he was supposed to be praying. Thank God he had people praying for him. He could not afford to sleep It is not good to be sleeping while you are still in battle. How long have you been sleeping? Have you been sleeping too long? Now that you have the privilege to be awake before the trumpet sounds, do you know where to go or how to move? You need to always be awake so you can be well placed in your escape route. Acts 12:11, “And when Peter had come to himself, he said, ‘now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectations of the Jewish people.’ So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.” If by grace you have come to life from sleep, you need to identify, with serious consideration, your new direction. Peter knew where to go after his sorrowful sleep. He went to a house of prayer before he could think of any other place to go. It is after-sleep for you. Do not go back to the sleeping ground again. After sleeping, Peter went to a place of prayer so he could be well placed in his escape route.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be awake and consistent in praying.