Mark 14: 32-50
Tuesday, 13 December 2022
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” -Mark 14: 38
“Keep watch and pray!”—Jesus’ instructions to His disciples at the crucial hours of His life as he Himself was wrestling in prayer at Gethsemane. Jesus is trying to emphasize the need to be alert and to remain prayerful! In our busy schedules something often compromised is our prayer life. Although unintentional, it’s a fact for many. While we cater to the many tasks and requirements to live on this earth, we miss out on something very crucial – prayer.
What is Prayer? Jonathan Edwards said, "Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is of life." Prayer is essentially, “talking to God.” Prayer is the primary way for a believer in Jesus Christ to communicate himself- his emotions and desires with God and to fellowship with God. What happens when you don’t pray? Lack of prayer causes a wall to build up separating us from God. This opportunity could be easily manipulated by Satan. Verse 38 says “The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” When you fail to keep watch and pray, that’s when the flesh in us gets the better of us, leading to corruption. See what happens then, as described in Galatians 5:19-21[CEV] “People’s desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God’s kingdom.” And then the warning given in Galatians 6:8: “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
What happens when we pray? Among other effects of prayer, specifically in Vs.38 it says, prayer breaks the power of temptation! Remember Jesus speaks this to Peter while He was present with them! How much more now, we need to remain prayerful to fight temptations and live a life pleasing to God!
How often should we pray?1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to “pray without ceasing.” –the importance of being prayerful at all times! We need to experience the presence of God continuously, through our daily schedules; hence the need to remain in prayer! Every moment is to be lived in an awareness that God is with us and that He is actively involved and engaged in our thoughts and actions. Jesus Himself set an example by being prayerful!
Judas one of the twelve disciples who walked with Jesus betrayed Him! When we believers who have surrendered our lives to Christ fail to meet the basic expectation of praying, we too can fall into times of temptation and betrayal of our Master. When you choose not to pray you choose not to build a relationship with God— as communication is an essential part of any relationship.
Remember God our Creator made us with a plan and purpose and only the Creator would know the true purpose of the creation’s existence. Hence let it be our heart’s desire to engage in prayer continually and experience the presence of God through every moment so that our Creator’s purpose will be fully fulfilled in our lives!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help me to remain prayerful always as I experience Your presence through every moment. In Jesus name, Amen.
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