Nougat 16

Tyler Perry’s larger than life character Madea is a hoot. Yet often her words and the life lessons of the dramas contain profound truths for us to consider. There’s a scene in one episode, I think it might be the class reunion, where the rich guy is being shaken down. And the warning from Tyler’s character was ‘you gotta watch and pray …’ Whereas Today’s Holy Nougat doesn’t carry the double entendre, the message remains pertinent.

“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭41‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Lest We Yield

Our call to watch is not about our neighbor. It’s not about our nation. This is a call for the believer to secure our own salvation even as we seek to invite others to Christ. Siblings, I’ve said before that the moment we truly accept Jesus as our Christ, our Messiah and Lord, we have as much as painted a bullseye on ourselves. And so, knowing that we are the enemy’s targets, we are called to watch and pray.

A quick reading of Ephesians 6:10-18 will underscore this. Our call to be armored ends with the directive for fervent, Spirit-directed intercession, accompanied by persevering and prevailing watchfulness. Siblings, having the armour is great, being saved is even better, but it must be ‘tempered’ with the watchfulness to escape the Tempter’s snare.

Very few creatures knowing they are being hunted just live with zero caution. We ought to be like-minded because the hunter of our souls wants us to yield so that the argument against us as believers is valid. Moreover, when we get caught in sin (whether or not the world sees us, God does) it is hard to remain faith-filled, until we genuinely repent. Hence the need for prayerful watchfulness.

Siblings, Jesus’ warning/invitation to the disciples came at a time when all seemed well enough for them. Yet, in less than half a day, life as they knew it changed forever. Each of us has experienced at least one life-transforming moment where we had to discern our next steps. Each of us has faced temptation even once. Watchfulness helps us see temptation for what it is; prayer strengthens our resolve to bypass it.

And if words fail us or we don’t know what to pray, may we borrow that line from Jesus’ model prayer: ‘Lead us (guide our steps) LEST we fall prey to Temptation; and DELIVER us out of evil’s path …’ May we be watchful in prayer, focusing on Jesus so we are led away from temptation by God’s Spirit.

Siblings, let’s continue to watch and pray.

—

May all we seek be found in Christ