WATCH AND PRAY
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
To watch and pray means being on guard and awake so that we can see when the enemy is at the door, trying to trap us. It also means that we have a constant connection with God, that we seek Him for power to overcome the traps of the enemy.
"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)
Temptation is anything that goes against God's will and the Bible. The lust for sin dwells in our human nature. We need to rely on God to give us the power to overcome our sinful nature.
We must be mindful and watchful. The enemy is always looking for ways to tempt us and place a wedge in our relationship with God. The enemy waits for an opportunity for a crack to slip into. For us to let down our guard for even a moment gives him the moment he has been waiting. His whole desire is to turn us away from God. If we are always watching and praying, we will resist the enemy's attempts to stand firm in our faith.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." (1 Peter 5:8-9)
We all have lusts and desires in our flesh that draw and entice us, but only by God's power and strength can we overcome them. Jesus experienced the same temptations when He lived on earth. He had to pray to His Father. Jesus, too, had to be alert and watchful.
"who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear," (Hebrews 5:7)
We use the Bible to help us be watchful. We need to connect with God from the time we wake up in the morning until the time we go to sleep. We can not be on our knees all day long, and we have other things to do in our day, but we need to have a strong relationship with God that is so close that we do not allow sin to get in the middle of our relationship. That is why we can always go to God for help when we need too; when we pray, we seek God's will and find the strength to do it.
How did Jesus overcome the enemy when he was tempted? Jesus used prayer and God's Word. There is no weapon that the enemy has that can come close to the power of God's Word.
When we are alert, we see when the enemy is trying to divide our relationship with God. In those times, we need to pray to God to help us keep out all those seeds from the enemy and prevent them from taking root in our hearts. They will not always look like big, obvious sins. Often the enemy will try to sneak in with "harmless" things, little sins that do not seem like that big deal. We must be watchful and see all of these temptations for what they are. Temptations designed to separate us from God
Just think of all the situations that come our way. What goes on during those times? What thoughts do we allow to come into our minds? The conversations where we become engaged. Be on guard for the enemy!
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
If this Bible verse is living and active in our lives, then the enemy has no chance to get in between God and us.
No matter what we are doing, we need to watch and pray to keep our relationship with God strong. God has called us for such a time as this. We must not allow anything to come in and destroy what He has called us to do.
Has your prayer life been lacking lately?
Heavenly Father, I will watch and pray, lest I enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. I live my life for You, and I will watch and pray to keep our relationship strong. I walk according to Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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No Matter What We Are Doing, We Need To Watch And Pray To Keep Our Relationship With God Strong. God Has Called Us For Such A Time As This. We Must Not Allow Anything To Come In And Destroy What He Has Called Us To Do.
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