Matthew 26:41(KJV)
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, told His disciples to watch and pray so that they could escape any temptation that came their way. Jesus knew that the only way His disciples could successfully function and overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, was in humble submission to His heavenly Father through prayer. Jesus Christ knew they were willing to do as He demanded, but the flesh was weak. From the Lord Jesus’ words, we know that prayer is of the utmost importance for us. So, there was no surprise that Christ admonished His sleepy and distracted disciples to watch and pray. Luke 21:36 says, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” As Christians, we are expected to heed carefully to these instructions. Since we don’t know when the Son of man will come, we must always live in the consciousness of eternity by being watchful and prayerful.
In our Christian calling, we cannot do without being watchful and prayerful. 1 Peter 4:7 says, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” For our faith not to suffer shipwreck due to temptation, we must be soberly watchful and prayerful. Even though we have an Unconquerable Ally in the person of Jesus Christ, He laid an example for us by watching and praying. It does not mean that challenges will not come our way; just as there are examinations in all schools, the school of life will always set exams for us, but God is always faithful to see us through by allowing all things to work together for our good. There are people sponsored from the pit of hell who devise strategies to ensure that we are swept off our feet spiritually. We can almost be sure that this attack will occur when we are weary and worn, for temptations strike when we are most vulnerable. Some temptations and pressures will assault us, make us give up on serving God, and stop us from walking in faith and believing the truth of God. However, when we are wide awake and prayerful, it is much easier to react quickly and appropriately. To watch and pray puts us on our guard because there are forces that want to make us fall in life. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 says, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”
Beloved, keep watching and praying, for it is the guiding principle for every child of God, every moment of the day, and throughout your time on earth. So, don’t go to sleep, but be sober and vigilant. Don’t surrender your life to the dictates of your flesh. To follow the flesh is to forfeit your destiny and end up as a failure. It is not the time to sleep but to be spiritually awake, alert, and prepared. It is the time to pray about practically everything that crosses your path. It is a time to wholly depend on God, who knows the way, to show us the way. Today, submit to God in humble submission and be prayerful to resist the evil one. Know the devil’s tricks and withstand him with the whole armor of God. There are people whose prime assignment is how to pull down your life and ministry and who would do everything to ensure that you fall from the faith and grace. Satan has called these and given them the assignment to distract, harass and divert your attention from fulfilling the calling. Remember, an essential requirement for survival in these last days is being watchful and prayerful.
O Lord, help me to be alive, awake and alert during the night to connect revelations and inspirations and overcome temptation in Jesus’ Name.