Watching and Praying

The disciples knew that they would face new difficulties. Jesus had told them that He would be handed over to be crucified. That one of them would betray Him. Bringing them to a secluded place, He encouraged them to pray, or they might fall into temptation (Luke 22:39-40).

But instead of devoting themselves to prayer, the disciples gave in to the weaknesses of their flesh: They fell asleep. As a result, they were unprepared for the challenges they faced. But Jesus was ready. He knew what to do. The answer was to “watch and pray.”

Jesus was giving us a pattern that applies to every situation. First, we need to be watchful. To stay alert to the conditions around us. To pay attention to trends. To study and think. To maintain a watchful attitude. To cultivate godly habits.

The second secret is to be people of prayer, always remembering Jesus’ words that “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” To be victorious, we need the power of the Spirit. We need to tap into the Spirit through prayer and call on Him for power, insight, discernment, protection, and victory.

That night, Jesus did both. He watched and prayed. He went through temptations but emerged victorious. In contrast, the disciples failed and experienced defeat.

Today, in your life, seek to apply this simple pattern. And remember to do both: to watch and pray. Constantly. Confident that God will give you discernment and the preparation you need.