The Lord Jesus Christ supplies us with a truthful and timely word about being motivated to pray. He spoke about the need to be watchful – “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38). To be watchful is to be alert, attentive, and observant. It’s a focus word. Jesus is teaching us that the urgency, and frequency, of prayer can be traced back to taking a close look at things. It’s seeing things as they really are. The disciples were not mentally and spiritually alert to the magnitude of this moment in the Garden of Gethsemane. Great eternal issues were unfolding in this place, but they were not sharp-eyed and on full alert to what was happening around them. They slept through this intense and immense battle being fought, and won, by Jesus. It was because He was keenly aware of the wicked work of the enemy coming against Him, that Jesus prayed so fervently and passionately.
Ponder the words that Jesus spoke to His disciples: “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” It was so unlike Jesus to speak this way! As they had consistently observed, Jesus was always fearless and on top of all situations. This was clearly different, but because they were not watchful in this moment of crisis, they failed to stand up and be accountable to the Lord’s invitation for them to join in this historic battle. They did not pray – none of them. But what about us? So often in life, we are facing our own titanic trials and temptations. And like the disciples, we are not on full alert as we should be. Think about it. The devil is always busy – busy all the time. He’s always up to no good. The battle is fierce and ferocious. The outcome is very clear – victory or defeat. May God give us a head and heart that is spiritually watchful. The results! We will pray as we should and win the victory like our beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. – Van Hardin