Unto Blood

E.M. Bounds, an author of 11 books (9 of them on prayer), believed in the concept that the whole man must be involved in prayer. Meaning, not just engaged with our mind, but with ours emotion, with our physical body, and with our spirit, too. How is this possible?

Jesus demonstrates the concept of the whole man praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was physically kneeling as he prayed. This is where the Son of Man yielded to the cross and to His Father’s will in Heaven. Notice, the angel sent to strengthen Christ was not sent after He was done praying, but to help Jesus continue on in prayer. But this was no simple prayer, as the scripture teaches our Lord was in agony. “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:43-44 KJV

Christ prayed—with His entire being (the whole man)—so earnestly that His capillaries burst under the tremendous strain and He was sweating blood!

King David understood agony and said concerning prayer, “I will pray until I become prayer itself.” Psalm 109:4b TPT

Are you praying for something? Are you praying with the whole man? Do not be discouraged. May heaven’s angels help you persevere! “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:4 KJV

—Paul