“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
Be Watchful
I have heard my pastor say these words several times: “We must be as watchful after the victory as before the battle.” Isn’t that so true? How many times have you prayed, fasted and pressed into the Lord prior to facing whatever giant is in your life, then won the battle, only to fall flat on your face afterward as the enemy swooped in because you let your guard down? The answer for me, unfortunately, is too many to count. I’ve gone to church with my family and had the Lord meet me in an incredible way either through worship and/or the message—and then not 10 minutes later get in the car and have a blow up with my loved ones over some random thing that seemed to rear its ugly head out of nowhere. Can anyone relate?
The above Scripture is the last part of the armor of God Paul talks about. After we put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, we need to pray and be watchful (or attentive and ready).
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus tells His disciples to “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). The watch here is to give strict attention to, be cautious, active, and in this particular verse it means lest one be led to forsake Christ. That gives me chills just thinking about it. The disciples had walked with Jesus for 3½ years, they knew He was the Messiah—they had seen and been a part of incredible victories, healings, resurrecting the dead, the feeding of thousands with a few loaves and fishes—yet that night one betrayed Him, the rest all scattered, and Peter denied Christ three times before the rooster crowed.
Jesus knew they would scatter. He told Peter he would deny Him (Matthew 26:34), but He also knew all but Judas would come back. He knew in the end they would again have great victory after they failed. The Church would be built by those who had denied Him and fled. That should give us all incredible hope.
I am in the middle of a war right now, and yesterday there were victories in several battles, but the war is far from over and I am grateful for the reminder to be watchful.
Father God, thank You for Your faithfulness and Your Word which admonishes us to be watchful. Help us to remember to continue to press in and rely on You as much after the victories in our lives as before the battles. Amen.
I’m thankful for this message this morning.
In the past 3 years, and more so focused, in the last 3 months. I have found myself praying on my armor several times, though out the day. Reapplying it, refreshing my mind that God has equipped me for this battle, and to trust Him. For He is greater in me, than he, who is in this world. That I’m not fighting flesh and blood. At this point, I know better than to get out of bed before praying my armor in place. The battle is real, yet I find myself in awe at the peace God allows me to have in the crisis. I don’t know how I ever thought I was living life before Jesus. My refuge, My strength, My fighter of all my battles. He didn’t say life would be easy, but that in this world,
we will have tribulations. He has overcome the world. The battle is already won. Praise, and glory, He lives! Amen
We ARE in a battle! I, too, put on that armor every morning as soon as I wake. And the covering of the blood of Jesus Christ. Most of the time I remember to thank Him for the blessing or the beauty of a situation. We belong to a Mighty God!
Praise God, that the battle is NOT mine, for He is my refuge, strength and my everything…Amen! Thank you for that gentle reminder of reapplying His armor….