Watch and Pray

Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing , but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus gave this admonition to His disciples in the garden of Gethsemane that night that he would be taken to be crucified. We find it again in Mark 14:38, “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” We must be watchful and pray so we do not enter into temptation.

The word watch is talking about keeping a careful watch on your surroundings. It’s the same as the word vigilant in I Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” If we are not careful and if we are not praying, we will fall into temptation and into sin.

Jesus gave this challenge to His disciples, but they did not heed it. As we know, the disciples did not pray, for the fell asleep. Peter denied that he even knew Jesus, and none of them except John were there when Jesus was crucified. The disciples did not watch and pray as they should. We must watch and be vigilant for the devil is looking to devour the lives of Christians. Lions like to go after the easiest targets since it requires the least amount of work. We must pray and be watchful, so we are not easy targets for the devil to devour. Watch and pray in our life today.