Watch unto Prayer

Twice in these last couple of weeks, I have felt unprepared for the spiritual battle that I came up against. One of those times was this morning, with interruption after interruption delaying this blog post, Ha!

As most of you know, I spend time volunteering at a local pregnancy center as an advocate. This new center is a bit more multi-cultural than my previous one, so there is an element of new experiences as I pray with Muslims, Hindus, and other faiths outside of the Christian faith. There is also an added element of meeting with women who come directly from their appointments on the medical side, many of them just finding out that they are expecting, and weighing their options as they tour what the pregnancy center has to offer in support.

It was this latter experience that I was very unprepared for, and though I had prayed for wisdom beforehand, still I charged into the appointment expecting one thing, but finding out later, it was quite different.

Peter, in the Garden of Gethsemane, entered the moments of Jesus’s trial and crucifixion with much the same outlook. Mark 14:26-41 details the time in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus expressed His great sorrow for what was to come to His disciples and asked them to pray with Him about it. Instead, they fell asleep, unaware of the temptation they would face in just a few hours. Peter, upon waking, speaks with great boldness of his desire to die for the Lord if he must, but when the situation unfolds, he finds that nothing is what he thought it would be.

Jesus was not fighting back.

He was not taking His deserved place as King of Israel.

Instead, Jesus would be the scapegoat from the Levitical Law, shedding His blood while allowing the guilty to go free. The sad account ends with Peter denying the Lord three times, just as Jesus said he would.

 How does this relate to my story? Too often, I get spiritually sleepy, assuming I am ready for whatever is ahead, and failing to pray in the moment for wisdom. Such was the struggle a few weeks ago. I charged in and spoke without watchful prayer. The result was that I overwhelmed a person with more information than what they were prepared to receive at that moment. Instead of building a bridge, I created a wedge. Such will be the case anytime one runs ahead of the Lord, thinking the context of the moment is clear. Peter learned a difficult lesson, and Jesus extended His forgiveness and restoration after His resurrection. So, He still does today.

This week, as I have considered the wars and rumors of war; the uncontrolled violence and hatred on every side; the earthquakes in diverse places; and evil men and seducers “waxing worse and worse,” everything points to Jesus coming again soon. Jesus spoke of these times in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 as the “beginning of sorrows.” Revelation 6-10 details the next seven years of suffering that will follow, and to be completely transparent, I am thankful that salvation in Christ means that I will not face this condemnation. (Romans 8:1) However, as I read the account of Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane, once again, the necessity of watchful prayer rises to the forefront.

Much like Jesus calling for His disciples to pray as they approached the crucifixion, Paul exhorts the believers again to watchful prayer as they see the day of Jesus’s return approaching. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11).

 It is sooooo easy to grow weary in well doing and spiritually tired. It is tempting to stay in my house and just “hang on ‘til Jesus comes.” With every difficult spiritual battle faced, the question arises, take up my cross and follow Him, or lay it down and find an easier path.

The word “watch” in the context of the Bible means to stay awake, alert, and vigilant.

• In Ezekial 33, there is instruction for the watchman to warn others of the danger to come.
• In Mark 14:37-38, it was a reminder to prepare for the temptation that might cause the disciple to sin.
• In Matthew 24:42-44, it was exhortation to be ready for the coming of Jesus, as servants would be prepared for their king to come home at any moment.
• In 1 Corinthians 16:13 it is a charge to stand strong like a soldier, ready to fight the spiritual battle at any notice.
• In Ephesians 6:18 that watchfulness coincides with unceasing prayer, both for oneself and for others in a spiritual battle.
• In 1 Peter 5:8, it is a charge to be alert to the working of Satan as he looks for opportunities to devour the weak and the vulnerable.
• Finally, in Revelation 3:2 and 16:15, it is a warning to prepare for the account each person will give before God with what each chose to do with God’s Word.

We must watch and pray, but what are the practical steps of watching and praying? I prayed before the mentioned encounter, but then I flew into expressing what I thought she needed without quietly and thoughtfully waiting for the Lord to lead. After prayerfully seeking the Lord, these are the things He impressed upon my heart.

-Do not run ahead of the Lord. Pray with every encounter, whether it seems obvious what they need or not.

-Stay in the Word. We are so prone to forgetfulness. God’s Word is our counsellor, and His Spirit lovingly applies the needed instruction, correction, and direction we need for each day.

-Stay alert to the needs of others. “Sleepiness” literally coddles the flesh, rather than disciplining it to care for and pray for others.

-Keep sharing the Gospel. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Without someone sharing it with us, we would be lost. We are in debt to share that same courtesy with others.

If you have any insight into watching unto prayer, I would love to hear what you have learned. I appreciate those who might “sharpen my iron” and pray that what I have learned might help sharpen someone else’s! Have a blessed weekend, my friends.