Sermon Recap+ June 1, 2025

The image of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane holds profound significance in the context of God’s providence, especially when we consider the timeless message it communicates about the purpose of prayer. In Luke 22:39-46, Jesus goes to pray, as was His custom. The disciples, familiar with His routine, followed Him, but despite His instruction to "pray that you may not come into the time of trial," they fell asleep. This moment reflects a key aspect of God's providence and the role prayer plays in our lives.

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In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus went to pray as was His custom. The disciples followed him without question because they knew the routine. Jesus instructed them to "pray that you may not come into the time of trial," yet they fell asleep instead. This familiar scene reveals more about the profound purpose, meaning and functionality of prayer that we often oversee.

With Prayer, the goal matters!

Is prayer merely a means to fulfill our desires or to express our wishes, as implied by the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find"? Or is there a deeper purpose to this sacred conversation with God?

Prayer serves a deeper purpose. There's something tangible and practical about the discipline of prayer that benefits not only us but those around us—especially our family and friends. That tangible benefit is serenity.

What's the Difference Between Peace and Serenity?

There is a peace beyond understanding, (Philippians 4:7) and a peace through Christ our Lord, but the only thing that will remain forever is love. So we can say that Peace comes and goes, but serenity stays and grows.

Serenity is not just a feeling but a state of being that comes from discipline and practice. It's the ability to say, like Jesus did, "Not my will, but yours be done."

Serenity allows us to wait and see what God will do next, even in the most challenging circumstances. It's the calm assurance that says, "This too shall pass."

How Do We Develop Spiritual Serenity?

Serenity is similar to wisdom. Nobody is born wise—wisdom comes through experience, often through learning from mistakes. Similarly, spiritual serenity is developed through consistent practice and discipline.

In Hebrews 5, we learn that Jesus "offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears" and "he was heard because of his reverent submission." Jesus was heard not because of his miracles or divine status, but because of his submission to God.

The scripture continues to explain that Jesus "learned obedience through what he suffered" and was "made perfect" through this process. This reveals something crucial about prayer—it's not just about getting what we want, but about developing reverence, submission, and obedience.

Why Does God Want Us to Pray?

Jesus told his disciples to pray not just to communicate with God or to ask for things, but to build themselves up for the testing times that would soon come. Prayer builds us from the inside out.

When life's challenges strike—and they will—the time to have invested in serenity is before the crisis, not during it. Prayer is that investment. It's spiritual preparation for life's inevitable difficulties.

How Can Prayer Sustain Us Through Difficult Times?

Prayer creates a firm foundation that sustains us when everything is in the balance. It's not just about individual strength but about being able to support our families and communities when they need us most.

When others see us pray consistently—and not fall asleep like the disciples did—it creates a legacy of faith that extends beyond ourselves. Prayer becomes the thing that sustains not just us but those around us.

How Can I Improve My Prayer Life?

One practical suggestion is to begin writing your prayers. Create a prayer journal where you record your conversations with God. The more you practice, the better positioned you'll be to face life's challenges.

Sometimes, you can even borrow the words of others. Even when you have thoughts of contention in between. I would argue that God doesn't grant serenity, God has granted us the power, privilege and the discipline of prayer, and through prayer we can gain serenity which is what Jesus wanted the disciples to achieve in the garden of Getsemani, anyway,

The Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr is a perfect example:

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardships as the pathway to peace, taking as he did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it, trusting that he will make all things right if I surrender to his will, that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with God forever in the next."

Life Application

This week, commit to developing serenity through prayer. Start by setting aside specific times each day for prayer—not just quick requests, but intentional time to develop submission and reverence before God.

Consider starting a prayer journal where you write down your prayers and God's answers. This practice helps build the discipline that leads to serenity.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Questions for Reflection:

2. Do I approach prayer primarily to get what I want, or am I seeking to build spiritual strength for the challenges ahead?

3. When challenges come, do I experience temporary peace or lasting serenity?

4. What legacy of prayer am I leaving for my family and those around me?

5. How can I make prayer a consistent discipline rather than an occasional practice

The image of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane is a powerful reminder of the role prayer plays in God’s providence. Prayer is not just a means to an end, but a process through which God strengthens, molds, and prepares us for His will. As we invest in prayer, we align ourselves with God's providential plan, trusting that serenity will guide us through every trial, just as Jesus demonstrated in the garden. Prayer becomes the tool through which we tap into God’s sustaining grace, growing in serenity, and leaving a lasting legacy of faith for those who follow.