{"id":29711,"date":"2021-02-22T03:30:11","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T11:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=29711"},"modified":"2021-02-19T17:51:09","modified_gmt":"2021-02-20T01:51:09","slug":"february-22-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2021\/02\/22\/february-22-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"February 22, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cPraying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints\u2026\u201c <\/em>Ephesians 6:18<\/p>\n

Be Watchful<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I have heard my pastor say these words several times: \u201cWe must be as watchful after the victory as before the battle.\u201d Isn\u2019t 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\u2019ve gone to church with my family and had the Lord meet me in an incredible way either through worship and\/or the message\u2014and 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?<\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus tells His disciples to \u201cWatch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak<\/em>\u201d (Matthew 26:41). The watch\u00a0<\/strong>here is to give strict attention to, be cautious, active, and in this particular verse it means lest one be led to forsake Christ<\/em>. That gives me chills just thinking about it. The disciples had walked with Jesus for 3\u00bd years, they knew He was the Messiah\u2014they had seen and been a part of incredible victories, healings, resurrecting the dead, the feeding of thousands with a few loaves and fishes\u2014yet that night one betrayed Him, the rest all scattered, and Peter denied Christ three times before the rooster crowed.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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