Week #8 devotional offers an empowering element to our prayer life. Matthew 26:41 calls us to; watch-n-pray!
Being watchful, not only listening for the Lord to speak to us in prayer but, being watchful, following our time of prayer. We know that 1 Corinthians tells us that temptation is common to mankind, meaning we will all experience temptation from time to time. It would appear that we approach our day as though we will not encounter temptation today. And when it comes, it seems to catch us by surprise.
In past military campaigns, before the tank-like mine sweepers emerged, men would go out ahead of the company or battalion of soldiers and detect and mark the location of the land mines. The soldiers were to be watchful of the markers in order to avoid death or wounds from falling into the enemies traps.
An early awakening occurred while participating in team sports in a small high school playing football. Our division played a nearby school known as C.S.D. The initials identified California School for the Deaf. It was especially noticeable when they had the ball, as there were no signals when the ball would be hiked. It was also noticeable when the official blew the whistle to end play, but they did not! Often, players who had hearing were hit unexpectedly, long after the whistle had blown, and they were on their back wondering, how did that truck get on the playing field? After the third or fourth such occasion, you became watchful!
Watch-n-pray, that you will not fall unexpectedly into temptation.
Prayer can make you both alert and victorious.