Watch & Pray - Matthew 26:41

Thursday March 17

Watch and Pray - Matthew 26:41 (ESV)

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

 My last devotion was about continuous, fervent and delivering prayer by others for someone else who was not able to pray for him/herself.  Jesus' admonition to His disciples concludes with “that you may not enter into temptation” is a reminder that we, ourselves, must be on guard for that “opportune” time (Luke 4:13) when the devil will return to tempt us again.

Such was the case when the person previously addicted to alcohol was at a gathering out of town.  The host came up and offered a drink; in fact, placing the glass in their hand, insisting on his taking it.  The person responded by saying, “No thanks, I don’t drink anymore,” and gave the drink to someone else who accepted it.

Isn’t that the way we should look at our lives?  We used to sin, but we don’t anymore.  Of course, we will sin again, but the goal is that we do not continue to sin (1 John 2:1).  George Mueller was quoted as saying, “The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer…they do not persevere… If we desire anything for God’s glory, then we should pray until we get it.”  In other words, pray with the fervent expectation of receiving. 

Lord Jesus,
At Gethsemane Your Disciples demonstrated their weakness and failed to watch and pray with You. Increase our reliance in Your Word and Your Spirit that we might withstand our hour of trial, as we pray in Your name,
Amen.

Carl E. Burkhead - Lawrence, Kansas