Keep Watch With Me

In Matthew 26:36-46, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is here where he would pray to the Father prior to his arrest. He takes three of his disciples with him, and asks them to keep watch with him. Jesus says to his disciples, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." (verse 38) Each time Jesus returned from prayer, he found his disciples sleeping. At a time of great sorrow, great agony, they slept. Again in verse 41 he tells them, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." And, yet again, they fell asleep. Yet again, they let him down.

How often do we fall asleep on our watch? We may not be physically asleep, but we sure do know how to fall asleep spiritually, don't we? How often has God given us something to do; we can feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit within us; and we just dismiss it and carry on with our own agenda and plans? Maybe he's prompting you to speak truth to a friend. Maybe he's prompting you to speak His Word to this fallen world. Maybe...a million other examples. Friends, I was so guilty of this dismissal for most of 2022. Oh sure, I could certainly look like a busy Christian, check off all those boxes for my Christian resume, but inside, inside I was spiritually asleep for most of the year.

Jesus said, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation... the flesh is weak." I can tell you from personal experience just how weak our flesh is, and how easily it falls into temptation. That temptation of glorifying self, of making it all about me and my accomplishments. That temptation of doing whatever feels good in the moment rather than what God wants you to do. Let me tell you, friends, if we are not keeping our eyes open, if we are not resisting the temptation to fall asleep spiritually, we will EASILY forget and dismiss where and in Whom we are supposed to be rooted. We can easily get stuck in a vicious cycle of doing more of the meaningless and disobedient while inside we are dying.

But, glory be to God, all hope is not lost. No matter how many times we fail God, He is always there for the one who truly repents and comes back to Him. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55:7

Toward the end of 2022, God put the word "seek" on my heart, and I committed to seeking him fully this year (and beyond), and through prayer and study, I feel closer with Him than I ever have. My eyes feel more open and watchful than ever. Praise Him for that. And praise Him for loving us so much, and desiring relationship with us so much, that He never allows us to stray for too long before calling us back home to Him.

Question: What is a current distraction in your life that is preventing you from hearing/listening to God's promptings? Are you awake and watching, or are you spiritually asleep? What is one change you can make to begin to get back on track?