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Could it be that many of the desperate prayers we lift are simply a result of not being watchful?
Being a pastor’s wife, I sit with many broken people and hear often hear things like:
Had I only known.
I didn’t see it coming.
We were blindsided.
Who would’ve ever thought?
Some things truly will take us by surprise in this life but are we intentionally being watchful? More than that…are we being watchful in prayer?
I have been thinking quite a bit lately about the importance of prayer WITH watchfulness.
What does it mean to be watchful?
Webster defines watchful as vigilant, wide-awake, alert mean being on the lookout especially for danger or opportunity. Wakefulness – being on the watch
Maybe it would help you to also see what watchfulness isn’t. What is the opposite of watchfulness? Careless, inattentive, thoughtless, unobservant, heedless, absentminded, distracted, daydreaming, preoccupied, oblivious.
Understand, friend that the world is not interested in your watchfulness. In fact, it’s banking on the fact that you aren’t being watchful.
Just a simple example can be found in: hidden service fees, free 30 day trials, scams, unnecessary car repairs…you know what I’m’ talking about and have probably been hit by a few of these in some form or fashion.
They prey on our busy, distracted lives.
A more serious example you’ve probably read about is sex trafficking. It’s startling to learn about what is taking place even in our comfortable towns and cities, here in the US. The predators are often looking for distracted individuals who are unaware of their surroundings.
We live in a distracted society.
Are we watchful?
How about when it comes to our children? Are we taking a proactive approach to mold and shape them or are we being reactive and just hoping for the best. How about their friends? Their social media choices? Their hearts? Do we know our children? Are we being watchful?
How about our marriages? Are we watchful? Are we investing in our spouses as Christ tells us in His Word? Are we watchful to cut off the dangers and pitfalls that can plague a marriage before they bring their ruin?
How are we being watchful in our parenting, our home, our marriages, our friendships, our ministries…and, perhaps most important, in our own hearts?
The Bible tells us on many occasions to watch and pray, to be sober, to keep alert, to persevere, to consider, to take heed.
We are not to be watchful in a paranoid or anxious way. We are to be prayerfully watchful. This, in fact, produces peace instead of panic. Watchfulness coupled with prayer, brings power, protection, and peace.
Watchfulness coupled with prayer, brings power and protection.
Here are a few scripture verses on wise watchfulness:
Colossians 4:2 says, Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
1 Peter 5:8 says, Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Thess 5:6 says, So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
1 Peter 1:13 says, Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:18 says, Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Proverbs 4:23 says, Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
Prov 8:33-34 says, Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it. “Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.”
1 Cor 10:12 says, Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
I hope these scriptures encourage your heart to go deeper in prayer and watchfulness. But it doesn’t stop there. If you are a Christ-follower there is more to consider than just the general struggles of life. As believers, we are in the army of the Lord. We are the light in the darkness. We are in a spiritual battle.
There’s a spiritual war going on and we are in it. We will face attack from the enemy. Are you alert?
Ephesians 6:12 tells us, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
So we need to be watching for an open door of the enemy. Trust me. He is looking for a way in. I read a passage last week in The Complete Works of E.M.Bounds on prayer that said,
Sleepless wakefulness is the price one must pay for victory over his spiritual foes. Rest assured that the devil never falls asleep. He is ever “walking about seeking and he made devour.” Just as a shepherd must never be careless and unwatchful lest of wolf devour his sheep, so the Christian soldier must ever have his eyes wide open, implying his possession of a spirit which neither sleeps nor grows careless. The inseparable companion and safeguards of prayer are vigilance, watchfulness, and a mounted guard.
When will Christians more thoroughly learn the two-fold lesson, that they are called to a great warfare, and in that in order to get victory they must give themselves to unsleeping watchfulness and unceasing prayer?
Are you watchful? Let’s not just consider today where we need to be watchful against the enemy. But let us remember we are in the service of the King. Let us be watchful for the move of God around us.
What has God wanted to do in and through your life if He could only get your attention?
Are you wondering why you don’t feel led in any particular way by the Lord? Have you been watchful to see Him at work around you? Are you available or distracted? How can you see His hand upon your life if you are not being watchful?
We have some things to consider today. Friend, think of all the areas in your life. How are you doing about being watchful? Are you watchful in prayer? Are you watchful for the attacks of the enemy. More importantly, are you watchful for the work of God around you so that you can join Him in His work?
Today, I intend to give more thought the each area of my life and to ask God to give me His eyes to see all He desires for me to see, how He desires for me to pray, and then I will stand at my watch. A soldier for the King.
Will you?
Lord, help us to develop hearts of watchfulness and prayer. Help us to remove distractions in our lives so that we can focus our eyes on You. Make us aware of the dangers of the enemy. Make us aware of the areas of our lives were the door has been left open. Teach us to pray according to Your will and help us to be vigilant daily to walk soberly in step with You. In Jesus name, Amen.
