June 16, 2022 - Matthew 26:38

“Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”” Matthew 26:38 NIV

Lord, you are always so amazing to us. You are always Emmanuel, God with us. You never leave us or forsake us. No matter what we walk through in life, you are there with us. Even if we can’t easily see you, we can trust that you are there. Sometimes you stand just out of reach teaching us how to stand stronger. It grows our ability and our faith. But just because we can’t feel you there doesn’t mean you are not there encouraging us and protecting us. Help us learn to trust your presence in this process and not blame you because we can’t feel or see you. Grow our trust in what it means that you are Emmanuel, God with us.

Lord, just like you are with us, we want to stand with you through it all. You tell us to cast our burdens on you and you will carry them. We also want to learn how to suffer with you and help carry your burdens. We don’t want to get so wrapped up in our own lives that we don’t stop and listen to you. We want to minister to you. We want to live our lives to see the Great Commission fulfilled, so that we can see some of the sorrow lifted you carry for the lost. Help us do our part in seeing the lost come into the knowledge of you.

Teach us to join in the fellowship of your sufferings. This is not an easy prayer to pray, and we don’t want to pray it lightly. To take on your burdens will cost us something. It isn’t an easy journey. Lord, show us what it means to sit with you and carry the burden. Teach us how to stay vigilant and keep watch with you. Teach us how to take our prayers to a new level that changes situations around the world and lifts some of the burden. Help us shoulder the feelings that will come with your burdens. Teach us. We want to be there for you like you are for us. You are worthy!

In Jesus name, amen.