WatchandPrayMonthlyNewsletter–April2019

HaveyouorsomeoneyouknoweverwonderedwhycertaincircumstancesoccurinthelifeoftheBeliever?Orhaveyoueverwondered“whydidn’tIseethatcoming?”WereadthewordsofourLordJesusinMatthew26:41:Watchandpray,lestyouenterintotemptation.Thespiritindeediswilling,butthefleshisweak."“Watchandpray”.Thewordtranslated“watch”means,“tohavethealertnessofaguardatnight.”Anightwatchmanmustbeevenmorevigilantthanadaytimeguard.Inthedaytime,dangercanoftenbespottedfromadistance.Butinthenight,everythingisdifferent.Anightwatchmanmustusesensesotherthansighttodetectathreat.Heisoftenaloneinthedarkness,andwithoutthedefenses,hewouldotherwiseemploy.Theremaybenoindicationsofanenemyattackuntilithappens.So,hemustbehyper-vigilant,suspectingitatanymoment.ThatisthetypeofwatchingtheLordJesusspokeabout.

Returningtothedisciples,Hefoundthemsleeping.Theirspiritswerewilling;theirfleshwasweak.Wedarenotcondemnthemwhenwethinkofourownprayerlives;wesleepbetterthanwepray,andourmindswanderwhentheyshouldbewatching.HowoftentheLordhastosaytousasHesaidtoPeter,“CouldyounotwatchwithMeonehour?Watchandpray,lestyouenterintotemptation.”Matt26:40Jesuswarnedusthatwearetooeasilydistractedbythephysicalandwillbecaughtunawareifwedonotcontinuallydisciplineourselves.Wecanonlyremainfaithfulwhenwearedevotedtoprayer.Inprayer,wecontinuallyallowGodtoforgiveus,cleanseus,teachus,andstrengthenustoobeyHim.Tokeepwatch,wemustprayforenduranceandfreedomfromdistractions(Luke18:1;Ephesians6:18).Wemustpraywithoutceasing(1Thessalonians5:17).WhenwelivewiththeeagerexpectationoftheLord’sreturnandexpectpersecutionuntilthen(2Timothy3:12),wearemorelikelytokeepourlivespureandourheartsreadytomeetHim.MayyourfellowshipanddesiretobeclosertotheLordbestrengthenedasthedaysgoon.AndmayyounotbeeasilydistractedandderailedfromtheplanandpurposetheLordhasforyourlife.MayyoubeactiveintheLord-alwaysabidinginHisperfectwill!InHim,Pr.TeddyF.Santos