3:260 – Watch and Pray

#faithbites #faithjourney Watch

Sometimes #faithbites are hard to write, other times, God tells me what to talk about. Today’s is based on my first grader’s memory verse: Mark 14:38 – “Watch and pray that you may not enter temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

We all want to be good. We want to follow God’s laws and be in his kingdom. Our spirits are willing. On the other hand, there are so many juicy temptations out there that make it so hard to be good. The flesh is weak.

The bottom line is, we don’t have to know everything. In fact, God tells us we can’t know everything. But he tells us how to live. Watch out for temptation, pray for guidance. That’s it. Simple. So we just need to keep it simple.

Scripture

• Mark 14:38 – “Watch and pray that you may not enter temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:!3 – No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
• Romans 13:14 – But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Reflection

All of this breaks down into two parts. First, we will be tempted. The flesh wants what the flesh wants. Satan has made sin so delicious that it’s hard to not enter. The second part is we have to have God to avoid it. Through prayer, through putting on Jesus, or the full armor of God, we can’t do it alone. If we try, we will fail. Another piece of this, is nothing we are experience in sin or temptation is new. It may have a slight twist to it, but it is the same ole sin. The same sin that Jesus forgives us for and helps us to avoid.

So, let us watch and pray that we may not enter temptation.

Challenge

What is one thing that is tempting you right now? How are you avoiding it? Are you putting on Jesus and praying? Are you being part of a community to help you resist? Remember, God wants to help us. We just need to watch out and pray.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for your words. You know that we will be tempted and you warn us. Even when we fail, which many of us do often, you pick up, clean us off, and forgive us. Help us to remember that you are there and we will help us no matter what. We just need to come to you, watch where you tell us to watch, and pray how you tell us to. Thank you for making things so simple. Help us to keep it simple. In your name, Amen,