Matthew 26:41 - Be On Watch

Step 1: Pray. Select.

As I approached my prayer time this morning, Matthew 26 came to mind. The Holy Spirit guided me to the story of Peter falling asleep when he was supposed to be praying. In contrast, Jesus prayed for the Father to take his cup, and eventually, Jesus was apprehended.

As I read through Matthew 26:41, it stuck out like never before, even though I have read this chapter multiple times. I knew the Holy Spirit had something to examine there today.

Let’s begin our journey, friends!

Step 2: Write. Read. Circle

Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:

• Watch And Pray

• The Spirit

• Is Willing

• But The Flesh Is Weak

Step 3: Re-Write

With a focus on the words that stood out, here is the personalized sentence that came alive in my heart. Don't forget, if you are doing this alongside me today, make sure to add your name to your unique sentence:

• Jennifer, watch and pray; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Step 4: Visualize

I have read this verse before, but it seemed to land differently in my heart today. In more recent months, I have struggled with disciplining my flesh. Today, the Holy Spirit gives hope through my sentence, refining my behavior to achieve the things God still has ahead and waiting for me to pick up. Sometimes, as I get older, I find my strength in question. But God tells me, “I am not through with you yet!”

The Holy Spirit tells me this morning that with ten minutes of focus on the LORD’s level of operation, He will restore the years, hours, and minutes the locusts have taken and achieve beyond anything within my limited comprehension. Nothing matters more now than Him, his time, and his instruction.

I let His words sink in deeper. I notice the word ‘watch’ comes first in my sentence and the scripture. The LORD is asking me to identify all the ways the enemy distracts me from His will. It is much more than what I think.

For those who read this blog regularly, I have mentioned my thoughts on how the LORD wants to refine our hearing so we stop seeing first and learn his voice to avoid temptation and giving into sin(Read Hearing First). But in this instance, since the LORD knows we still rely heavily on our sight in this world, he takes our sight and uses it for good. He uses it to instruct Peter to be on watch. He asks us to open our eyes to see temptation or the attacks against us, and since the flesh is weak, pray against it.

At this moment in the scripture, Jesus has been without any food or water from his fasting; he is very weak. I am sure he is dying to quit in his fleshly human body. He must have been completely exhausted and tired. And yet, Jesus stayed awake praying while Peter fell asleep. Anyone with him would have justified Jesus to nap or eat something; this would have been entirely acceptable by society’s standards. We would say something like, “Don’t worry about it; you did more than anyone else. Go ahead; you deserve to give in and treat yourself.” Or if we are talking to ourselves, we say things like, “I deserve a break. It’s not that big a deal. No one will even notice.” But friends, the Holy Spirit is telling me what looks like nothing, or a little thing, is a big deal in the kingdom.

When God gives us a seed planted within us, we must hold onto it and not let it go. Stay the course. No matter what anyone or everyone else is doing, complete it until the day of Jesus. Even if we get weak along the way, get back up, pray, and keep going. But, we must understand that to stay in the will of the Father, we must be on watch.

Peter was doing what Jesus already predicted. Peter was allowing the sin of the flesh to creep into his lazy nature, which is what led to him waking up and recklessly cutting off an ear, giving into anger, or eventually denying Jesus because he didn’t want to endure what Jesus was so well prepared for through his prayer and fasting. I want to be careful not to judge Peter too harshly. He had the heart of a lion. Instead, we should know this was always a part of Peter’s story that needed to be written. It was not Jesus’s story. It is not my story. It is not your story!

Friends, pay attention today, be on watch, and pray over the things that go against what God has placed in your heart. It is your journey, and no one can walk it for you!

I have a question, so I move straight to Step 5.

Step 5: Ask. Seek

The question that came to mind is:

• Holy Spirit, how can I remain focused or identify what is worth my attention and what is a distraction?

Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive

This is the answer I received:

“It is the little things. The big things are obvious. Have you heard the phrase the devil is in the details? Pay attention to the motivation behind your actions. Are you in control? Is someone or something else bargaining with you? You have said it many times: when your Father speaks, he is clear and concise. Do not waste time asking if it is okay to get out of something; ask God to give you strength and wisdom to endure. Look up when tempted and get your strength and clarity from the source. If you see something set in your path today, pray out of your mouth to pass or pick it up. Your flesh only gets heavy when you carry more than you are assigned. Stay in his will; you will conquer the day’s tasks. In the end, your Father will present you to your future as he did Jesus when he said - This is my son with whom I am well pleased.”

Step 7: Pray. Confirm

Father God, I come to you in the name of my LORD and Savior Jesus.

Thank you for showing me a side-by-side comparison of the difference between Peter and Jesus through Peter focusing on the flesh and falling asleep, and our Messiah, who prayerfully endured only conversing with you!

Today, I pray you to guard me and my ways only to suit you and my work to please you.

Let me not waste another minute picking up stuff that is not mine so I can fully invest in the talent you have replaced in my hands.

I ask this in Jesus’ mighty name and seal with prayer with the blood - Amen!

If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.

Step 8: Share. Testify

If you workshopped any of the verses mentioned above using the 8-Step Prayer Practice, we would love to hear from you in the comments below about what the Holy Spirit showed or spoke to you today.

Remember to spread hope and share your miracle or testimony HERE. We want to see how God is working in your life!

Conclusion:

Friends, let’s choose to fulfill the prophecy that has been spoken over your life today. Stay the course.

Be on watch and pray through every situation.

Don’t pick up what is not yours so you preserve your strength to carry out your will and purpose over your life until the day of Jesus.

Have a watchful and prayerful day! See you soon.