Watch and pray!

"My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." And Jesus came to His disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:38-41

While I was reading this passage today, I was reminded of the importance of watching and praying. Jesus encouraged His disciples to watch and pray with Him before He was taken from them to be crucified. As I read that passage, I wonder, "if Peter had watched and prayed that night, would he still have denied Christ three times? Would Peter had the strength of God to overcome his fear that caused him to deny Christ?"

Ephesians 6:10-12 says, "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." 

After reading these passages, I have to confess that I have depended on my own strength to fight against sin far too often. As a result, I have doubly failed. First, I do not have sufficient strength to fight against sin. Second, I have declared independence from God the moment I depend on my own strength. Instead, I should acknowledge my total dependence on God. In Matthew 26, Jesus did not ask Peter struggle harder in his strength. Instead, He called Peter to watch and pray! Oh how we need to just let our guards down and allow the Spirit to work within us!

1 Corinthians 15:50-57 says, "I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the persishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The string of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! HE gives us Victory through OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

"Father, forgive us when we depend on ourselves for strength. We acknowledge our desperate need for You. Far too often have we depended on ourselves--in our struggle against sin, in our ministry to honor you.. You have said in 1 Peter 4:11 that we should depend on you for strength and for words. Forgive us Father! We let our guards down in Your presence, and acknowledge our total dependency on You! Fill us with the Spirit. Stir within us a sense of dependency on You every moment! Father, we praise You for You give us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Breathe upon us O God! We pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus! Amen!"