FRIDAY October 8, 2021
Praying Always, Watchful with Perseverance
....praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Ephesians 6:18
Notice the words Paul used for defeating the enemy in battle: praying always, being watchful and perseverance. The word always in the Greek means “on every occasion, at all seasons.” On every occasion we should pray. God desires that we pray. He wants to hear from each of us individually.
The word watchful in the Greek means “to be sleepless, to be attentive and vigilant––watching.” Spiritually speaking, nothing should cause a Christian to fall asleep. There is a need to pay attention, to look around you, and see what is happening. Those in the armed forces have to be watchful in detecting the enemy’s approach. Marines were allotted shifts to keep watch. Those placed on watch duty must diligently keep watch and not fall sleep. If they failed to stay awake, they could be killed along with their comrades.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, do you remember when Peter was found by the Lord to be sleeping instead of praying? The enemy was approaching, and Judas would betray Jesus into the hands of sinners, but Peter went to sleep. Jesus knowingly warned Peter: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Peter failed to be watchful. He, along with the rest of the disciples, were defeated. When Jesus was arrested, they all forsook the Lord and fled (Matthew 26:55-56).
The word perseverance in the Greek language means “a remaining under, a patient, enduring, steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to “remain under the challenges He alots them in life.” How are you defeating the enemy through prayer, watchfulness and perseverance?
Christ ceaseth not to work by His intercession with God for us, and by His Spirit in us for God, whereby He upholds His saints, their graces, their comforts in life, without which they would run to ruin.
~William Gurnall~
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