Each January, I adopt a Bible word or passage as my Scripture for the new year. Meditating consistently on one truth helps me concentrate on a specific area of my walk with Jesus. This year, I have been studying the “watch and pray” texts in God’s Word, and my heart has been so convicted and instructed concerning my own prayer life.
Both the Old and New Testaments connect watchfulness with prayerfulness. It was a particular emphasis of the Lord Jesus with His first disciples. Those of us who live on the brink of Christ’s second coming should be especially watchful.
- We must watch for daily opportunities for prayer.
- We must watch for specific objects for which to pray.
- We must watch for spiritual opposition to prayer.
- We must watch for definite outcomes in prayer.
Alertness to the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to effective prayer. We must learn to watch and pray!
I am excited to share these Bible studies with you over the next few weeks. Our new Enjoying the Journey podcast series begins on Monday, and we trust each episode will help you to grow in the discipline and joy of prayer. As always, you can find the daily program on your favorite podcast platform, our Youtube channel, enjoyingthejourney.org, or the new ETJ web app. Plan to meet us in the Word as we study, and then meet us at the throne in prayer!
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
Dear brother Pauley,
O how important bring to our soul and mind the command to watch and pray.
Being sure that the Holy Spirit has lead you on that vital subject of watching and praying
His house to be a house of prayer.
Praying for you dear brother Scott Pauley