Prayer is so very important in our lives but I am going to say that watching is as well. In fact, Jesus about this subject to His disciples in Matthew 26:41, when He said, "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation... " He said this immediately after getting onto them earlier in the same chapter for not 'keeping watch' with Him while he was agonizing in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane.
I would like to stop right here and ask why are we often willing to pray but often unwilling be the one on watch? I don't know about you but anytime I have watched a movie where someone has to take watch while the others sleep...I have always wondered if I could stay awake. Haha. I am not a night owl. Keeping watch can seem boring and lonely. Also I wonder if you think that "what is one person watching going to do?" There is a big forest out there and surely I will miss something. Also...we have an omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent God who is able to do all things. He will protect us and keep us safe, right? After having a little talk with Jesus we can just sit back and relax, go to sleep and He will handle it all for us!
I am going to warn you...It is our responsibility to watch as well as pray because our adversary is sneaky like lion, seeking, hunting and planning for his next victim to devour. No matter how we look at it; we are in a fight and most of the time we are the object of the hunt. The worse type of fight to be involved in is one where you didn't even realize you were in. It is called spiritual warfare and we can't just let the "heavenlies" take care of it all. Our "guardian angel" isn't going to protect you from all the fiery darts either. Lethargy, complacency and exhaustion will find us as easy targets for things that we never thought we would be involved in. In boxing, it NOT the punch that you see that causes you the most damage...it is the punch you don't see that usually knocks you out.
I am going to warn you...It is our responsibility to watch as well as pray because our adversary is sneaky like lion, seeking, hunting and planning for his next victim to devour. No matter how we look at it; we are in a fight and most of the time we are the object of the hunt. The worse type of fight to be involved in is one where you didn't even realize you were in. It is called spiritual warfare and we can't just let the "heavenlies" take care of it all. Our "guardian angel" isn't going to protect you from all the fiery darts either. Lethargy, complacency and exhaustion will find us as easy targets for things that we never thought we would be involved in. In boxing, it NOT the punch that you see that causes you the most damage...it is the punch you don't see that usually knocks you out.
I will not claim to know a whole lot about boxing but what I do know is that once that bell rings you are supposed to come out with your hands up ready to fight. Your opponent is not obligated to wait until you are absolutely, positively, one hundred percent sure you are ready to fight. They aren't going to wait for you to tie your shoe or adjust something and just hang back with courtesy until you get it all together. The same is true concerning the devil. He specializes in waiting for an opportunity to attack you when you are most vulnerable, especially when you are not paying attention.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." Ephesians 6:10-18
The full armour of God isn't just a great topic for a sunday school class for children...it is the way that we were meant to live every single day of our lives. Every morning we wake and put on every tool that God has given us so that we can be prepared and ready. It isn't just an "object lesson" for us to say is cutesy and cool...it is full on warfare! You may be saying, wow...being a Christian and being in this "fight" doesn't sound like a lot of fun. Well being in the world and being in that misery sounds much worse. We are fighting for our freedom in Christ, our purity, our minds, our families, our destinies, our purposes in life...our joy. It is so worth it to take a little bit of time out of our day to prepare and be ready for what the day brings. Getting our minds and spirit right and ready to hear from God so that we can advance His kingdom is a powerful and life-giving thing.
Athletes do not gear up just to hang around and watch tv and chill with friends. When they take the time to tape those knuckles, get that heart rate up, put on those boxing gloves....they are ready for action. Start your day today ready so that you will be prepared and mindful of anything that comes your way...and you will overcome it with God on your side.
Adjust that Crown!
Jonna
