I remember lots of gritty prayers. Of course, I didn't call them that then, but they were get-to-the-point prayers, like "O God, if you don't help me, I'm toast."
When my marriage almost ended.
When my wife almost died.
When my daughter was diagnosed with brain tumors before she was born.
When I lost my job a couple of times.
When I took a step of faith and left my job, I was unemployed for 6 months.
When we were homeless twice.
Ok, my life isn't that bad, but there have been moments when the average prayer time with God wouldn't cut it.
Jesus had one of these experiences in the Garden of Gethsemane.
In Matthew 26:36 - 46, we can read the whole story, but it is this verse that has my attention: 38 He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." (NLT)
The Garden of Gethsemane is an olive tree grove found at the base of the Mount of Olives. Interestingly, the word "Gethsemane" means "olive press."
The process of pressing olives into olive oil involves a number of steps and significant pressure.
Do you feel like an olive? Good, so did Jesus.
Prayer isn't just a prayer; it is a sacrifice.
39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."
Jesus clarified that He sacrificed His will to His Fathers with humility and submission. This is key. I've heard people pray, "Lord, I'll do what you want, but I won't like it." Pride is arrogant, and arrogance insults God. You can be blunt, to the point, even yell at God - but do so with a heart that recognizes that He is God and you are not. Sacrifice your pride and desire to control the outcome.
Listen for the answers and wisdom God will give you.
No, it doesn't say that Jesus specifically heard from His Father. But I think He did; why? Because He followed through with the plan. He sacrificed His life on the cross to redeem us from our sins.
Take the time to stop and listen. Quite your mind and trust your heart to hear God's still, small voice. You will learn more than you know, do more than you ever imagined, and become someone you never thought could ever be.
Footnote here. Because this is "get real" time with God, you're going to believe you can listen and you will hear from God.
Don't allow circumstances to deafen or blind you from the truth.
So, put yourself in Jesus' sandals for a moment. You're going to be tried, wrongfully convicted, sentence to death, flogged, beaten, forced to drag a heavy cross uphill, which you will be nailed to, suspended between heaven and earth fighting with every ounce of strength to breathe through the blinding pain only to succumb to your injuries and die.
But if you are so focused on the problem you can't see the solution, you'll lose faith and give up. Then, the outcome is a matter of rolling dice. You'll get what you get.
Trusting God's truth in tough times rather than playing the odds in Vegas is wiser. Remember, Satan has stacked the odds heavily against you.
Get to the point and be honest.
"My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me."
When I was a kid, I was raised on the King James Version of the Bible. English was a struggle for me, thus making Shakespearean English a nightmare. But I thought Jesus, James, and John spoke this way. After all, everyone prayed in the King James Version, too.
O Lord most high, Thou art my shield.
In Thee alone, my soul doth find rest.
Forgive my iniquities, I humbly pray,
And guide my feet upon your path.
Let not mine heart be troubled nor dismayed,
For Thou, O God, art with me night and day.
Amen.
Now say that with a heavy hillbilly accent, and you get the picture.
But I remember the pastor's daughter-in-law telling the story about how God saved her from a serious car accident. She was driving down the highway, and suddenly, someone pulled in front of her, leaving her nowhere to turn. She shouted, "JESUS!" She was unharmed, driving down the same road in the blink of an eye.
That was a Gritty prayer.
Don't worry about the words. Let Jesus know exactly what is going on.
Don't do it alone.
40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Couldn't you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!"
This one failed Jesus. He asked the disciples to help Him pray, and they napped.
I would venture you know some people who will pray for you and not take a nap.
Call them.
Ask and do it often
42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, you will be done."
44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.
Jesus even instructed us to be persistent in prayer. Luke 18:1–8
I get it. If you were to call your doctor 5 times a day asking if they got your test results in, you might get a furious nurse on call 6.
But God doesn't work that way. He isn't insulted by your persistence; He is honored by it. You're keeping your faith focused on Him and Him alone.
You cannot "bug" God.
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