Pressure causes whatever is being pressured into the path of least resistance. If I squeeze play dough in my hand, it will force it through the gaps in my fingers. It will either bend or break under the pressure.

We deal with pressure daily: spiritual, emotional, financial, and physical pressure in our lives. For David, the path of least resistance led to murder and eventually to the arms of Bathsheba. For Peter, the path of least resistance was to deny, deny, deny. For Thomas, the pressure realigned him with a place of doubt. I saw Him die. For Mary and Martha, the pressure forced them to accept death and the white flag of surrender. Lazarus was dead, and Jesus was four days too late! For Jonah, the pressure was ministry in a place he did not want to go, to preach to a people he didn’t want to.

We can find a perfect example of someone who did not take the path of least resistance. His name is Jesus Christ! He is the Son of God. Jesus passed the test, responded to the pressure, and took it all in. He mastered living under pressure and learned never to succumb to the path of least resistance!

1. He had a place to pray – John 18:2
2. He showed a pattern of prayer – John 18:2
3. He had a people to pray for – John 17:9-11, John 17:14-17
4. He prayed in the power of the promise – John 17:24

How will you respond to the pressure? What is your current knee-jerk reaction to the pressure? Are you living on the path of least resistance? When pressure comes, when the war is so real you can smell the gunpowder, is your response to yell, scream, and fuss? Is it to cry? Or do you respond to the pressure like the Lord Jesus did? We have to learn to refute the path of least resistance and learn to live and pray under pressure like Jesus!