Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:40-41
Today I am thinking about the time I am spending in actually praying for others. We all love the mount of transfiguration. Jesus is being glorified and Peter declares this is a good place for us to be…let’s builds a tent and stay here. But prayer happens in the closet. Prayer happens in the valleys. Prayer happens when our back is against the wall and all we can do is cry out for help.
Prayer works and prayer is work! We are in a battle. Always
On another occasion the same three me are in the garden of Gethsemane, the night Jesus is to be betrayed, only this time they were sleeping.
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26a:40-41
What types of things do we need to watch and pray for?
Being Ready for His return
Most of the time Jesus mentioned “watching” was in reference to his returning and being found faithful to be working when He returns. Luke 12:34-37
Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12:34-37
Being ready to resist when temptation comes
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:40-41
Battle strategy
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
Prayer fights off discouragement
Sometimes when we are discouraged, we need to stop spending so much time trying to fix the problem and engage in prayer.
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. Luke 18:1
Helps align our lives to participate in God’s daily agenda of faith. Love and salvation
Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2
Reminder to pray for all the saints
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints’ Ephesians 6:18
In several of Jesus’ parables He included prayer as part of the “work” which He was looking for in His servants. May you fight for the rhythm to include prayer as part of your daily existence. Seize the opportunity to pray. Make sure intercession is included in the downbeat of your worship. What you pray for now, stays with you in heaven. What prayers are you offering to God?
Learn how to pray…pray often…may some prayers be long…may …be watchful and pray
Blessing Love y’all