Keep watch and pray,
Matthew 26:41 New Living Translation
so that you will not give in to temptation.
For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
We All Experience Temptation
We are all human; therefore, we all experience temptation. But it doesn’t have to take us unaware.
Watching Means Paying Attention
I remember a childhood ambition of being an international spy. It seems such a glamourous life; but as I matured, I realized I was not equipped to be a spy. I am the most unobservant person ever! International secrets could be passed under my nose, and I would never even see it. (Also, I love to be in bed by 10 p.m.; the life of ferreting out criminals and foiling masterminds would interfere with bedtime.)
All Believers Have an Adversary
The Apostle Peter tells us we have an adversary, and the best defense is being clear-minded, vigilant and resistant.
Be sober, be vigilant;
1 Peter 5:8-9 New King James Version
because your adversary the devil
walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour.
Resist him, steadfast in the faith,
knowing that the same sufferings are
experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
Spiritually speaking, it is dangerous to not be watching for traps the enemy might set for me. In other words, I should be on the watch for things that could trigger me into a failure.
Watch for Unforgiveness
One way the enemy can influence us to sin is in the area of unforgiveness. It is so easy to become bitter when the enemy whispers of another’s offense. You might call this a device the enemy uses to get our eyes off Jesus and onto self.
Whomever you forgive anything, I also forgive.
2 Corinthians 2:10-11 Modern English Version
For if I forgave someone anything,
for your sakes I forgave it in Christ,
lest Satan should take advantage of us.
For we are not ignorant of his devices.
This post was written in response to the prompt, “watch,” shared at Five Minute Friday. Although the post was written in 5 minutes, the headings, scriptures and graphics took longer.
All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy.
A Personal Note:
It’s good to be back on the blog after an extended summber break that included hospitalization for my husband, travel to two different states, a bedside vigil, the homegoing of my mother and a burial. I’m catching my bearings and pondering what is most important. How was your summer?
Previous Post: Time for A Summer Break
Sharing at Five Minute Friday, Grace & Truth InstaEncouragements Link-Up, Let’s Have Coffee
being a detective would mess with my bedtime too! 🙂 made me smile to read that. FMF12
Thanks, Annette! It’s so crazy to look back and see how unaware of my true self I was! I defintiely needed to learn how to pay attention.
Sorry to hear your Mum passed away Jerralea. I lost my Mum last year on my birthday…Sending you hugs across the ocean my friend.
Blessings, Jennifer
Thanks so much, Jennifer. I’m sorry we are both members of a club that no one wants to join – motherless people! But I’m so glad I have hope of seeing her again.
I’m sorry to hear about your Mum’s passing – that must have been difficult. Good to see you here again, and I like the direction you went with this word! How interesting to see all the different interpretations of the prompt. Visiting from FMF#5
Thanks, Kym! I love being part of the FMF writers for that very reason – we each look at the prompt differently. It is so interesting!
Jerri, so sorry to hear about your mom. I noticed you’ve been quiet for a while here. I hope the mending is going well from those hospitalizations. I’m happy you’re back. And you know you have a bunch of friends here that care about you. Isn’t it something how we can make great friends here in the blogosphere? {{Hugs}} xo
Visiting today from G& T
(Coming to you today from my new website)
Thank you, Paula! It’s good to be back!
I do love meeting all the writers here on the blogosphere. I had to take a break, but I can never stay away for long!
She was always there for me,
she was there right from the first,
and now her loss is all I see,
and, oh , God, how much it hurts!
She was there to ease the bruises,
and kiss all of the skinned knees.
Are these sum of Mother’s uses,
to assuage the least of these?
Or did she fly to Le Bourget
to see the crowds that Lindy saw?.
Is her heart unfettered yet
to break another silly law?
Are there places I must go
to meet the Mom I need to know?
Andrew! Thanks for gracing my blog with another one of your epic poems. I’m so interested in those last two lines – “Are there places I must go to meet the Mom I need to know?”
What an interesting thought! Is there more to Mom than I already know. Will God in eternity allow me to know more? Food for thought!
I am so sad to hear of your mother’s passing, Jerri, and I’m sending you a big hug accompanied with a prayer for grace and comfort to process the loss of her presence here on earth.
In my mind, I imagined being an international spy would be great fun, but I’m a HUGE truth person, so I could NEVER do it because I couldn’t do all the sneaking, and lying, etc.
An interesting audiobook is The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone. It tells the history of the beginning of spying/ferreting out bad people in America. It’s a great listen!
I don’t think in my young years that I even considered the ramifications of what a true spy’s life might be like!
That book sounds so interesting – instead of being a spy, I just now read about them.
I agree I never wanted to be a spy but in these days we are told to watch and pay attention, a timely reminder!
So true, Leisa. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day and never notice the traps the enemy loves to lay for believers.
I’m so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing, and that you’ve been in the hospital too. Sending hugs and prayers for comfort and peace.
Hope you’re feeling better from whatever sent you to the hospital.
Welcome back!
Thank you, Sandra. I am sorry I was unclear in my personal note, I’ve changed it to read that it was my husband who was hospitalized. He had a severe allergic reaction to one of his medications. When it first presented, no one could figure it out. It just added a lot of stress to an already stressful time. He is doing much better now!
Jerrilea, I am so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. May the Lord comfort you as you process the loss. I enjoyed how you shared on the word prompt. While I am very observant and love watching all that goes on around me, I would be too chicken to be a spy. May the days ahead bring healing to your husband and some rest for you!