“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 NIV
These words were spoken to Peter, James, and John after Jesus found them sleeping rather than keeping watch with Him while He went further into the garden to pray. But I believe Jesus’ words have a much broader application than this time in the garden. I find it very applicable to my daily life as well.
My spirit is willing, wanting to faithfully follow after Jesus. I want to live a holy life in obedience to Him. But all too often, I fall short. It is not that I am often guilty of engaging in activities I shouldn’t. Rather, like Peter here in the garden, I fall asleep. At least my spiritual eyes get heavy, and my ears grow dull. And I find myself spiritually sleepwalking through my day. Not doing anything I shouldn’t. But not looking to where my Lord might lead or hearing what He might have to say to me.
The solution to that is what Jesus told Peter. To watch and pray. Like Jesus in the garden, to seek God’s will rather than my own. And not just on occasion. But to pray always (1 Thess. 5:17), staying in touch with my Lord. And to watch for the opportunities He brings my way. Opportunities to serve Him and to be productive in this life. And then to take advantage of those opportunities.
To pray, seeking God’s will, and to watch, looking for where the Lord might lead me, are keys to living the fruitful lives we have been called to live.
