Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Watch and Pray

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)
The prevention for falling into temptation is being watchful (alert/aware) and prayerful (pray unceasingly). We humans are weak; therefore, we need the Holy Spirit to empower us to stand strong against temptation. If we don't stay alert and pray continually, we'll be more vulnerable to Satan's attacks, lies, & temptations and to succumb to our fleshly desires/sinful pleasures. When we start thinking that we're doing fine on our own and ignore spending time with God, we put ourselves in a dangerous position. Pride is an open door inviting Satan to have a field day. God promises to give us everything we need to live a victorious, godly life. Let us never take this wonderful promise and our prayer privilege for granted!

Be constantly watchful over yourselves and be aware of how the Enemy works. Guard your eyes, ears, tongue, hands, feet, mind, and above all, heart! "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23) Different people are tempted by different things (foods, drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling, greed/money, power, fame, etc.) Avoid/get rid of anything that is not good for you (physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally). Pray and ask God to give you the courage and power to do so.

Effective prayer takes alertness and self-discipline. Our mind tends to wander. Stay focused. A prayerful life is a powerful life! Be alert and ask God for the strength to resist temptations and for wisdom & discernment to know "the way out". "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

"Prayer does not take our trials away--but it puts our life into the hands of God--so that in His keeping, we shall be kept from harm while we pass through our trials. It brings God's grace into our heart--to preserve us from falling into sin; and God's strength into our life--that we may be victorious over our enemies. Not to pray as we go into the day's dangers and trials--is to meet them without the help of Christ, and surely to suffer hurt, and possibly to fall into sin!" (J.R. Miller)



1 comment:

paula said...

ive done wrong , i ask for forgiveness , people may criticize , condemn , but no one can judge , only the one above. ill do wrong again ,im far from perfect, but while ever i have GOD , i know he will help me , show me the way & say," have faith for he who does no wrong , has not been true to ones self. Admit your mistake , and if at first you dont succeed , try ,try ,try again." Theirs good & bad everywhere , i just pray he looks over me , stays with me, AS GOD IS ALL I NEED
AMEN . forgive me if i dont reply.

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