November 3Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak — Matt. 26:41.
Some make the mistake of praying without watching; others make the mistake of watching without praying; but the safe and only proper method is that which our Lord directed, to combine the two. We are to watch for all the encouragements of the Lord's Word, the evidence of their fulfillment and the signs that betoken His presence and the great changes of dispensation just at hand. We are to watch for everything that will strengthen us in faith and hope and loyalty and love; and while watching we are to pray without ceasing. We are to pray together as the Lord's people; we are to pray in our homes, as families; we are to pray in secret, in private—Z '01, 80 (R 2773). Watchfulness surveys our dispositions, thoughts, motives, words, acts, surroundings and the influences operating upon us. Prayer is the uttered or unuttered heart's sincere desire going out to God for good things. The former furnishes us with all the knowledge and energy to arouse us to activity, the latter with all the light and energy from the Word and all the circumstances and other helps from the providences to assist our activity in realizing the blessings that the Lord offers us. Such watching and prayer will deliver us amid and from temptation and will enable the willing spirit to conquer the weak flesh to God's glory—P '32, 166. Parallel passages: Matt. 26:38-40, 42-46; Mark 13:33; 1 Cor. 16:13; Eph. 6:18; 1 Pet. 5:8, 9; Heb. 3:12, 13; Isa. 26:8, 9; Rom. 7:18-25; 8:3; 1 Cor. 9:27; Gal. 5:16, 17, 24; Phil. 2:12, 13; 3:12-14. Hymns: 183, 184, 20, 145, 78, 13, 130. Poems of Dawn, 111: Watch and Pray. Tower Reading: Z '13, 279 (R 5312). Questions: Have I this week watched and prayed? How? Why? With what results? |
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WATCH AND PRAY
CHRISTIAN, seek not yet repose,
Hear thy gracious Savior say,
"Thou art in the midst of foes:
Watch and pray."
Principalities and powers
Mustering their unseen array,
Watch for thine unguarded hours:
"Watch and pray."
Gird thy heavenly armor on,
Wear it ever, night and day;
Ambush'd lies the Evil One:
"Watch and pray."
Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
Him thou lovest to obey;
Hide within thy heart His words:
"Watch and pray."
Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day;
Pray that help may be sent down:
"Watch and pray."
CHRISTIAN, seek not yet repose,
Hear thy gracious Savior say,
"Thou art in the midst of foes:
Watch and pray."
Principalities and powers
Mustering their unseen array,
Watch for thine unguarded hours:
"Watch and pray."
Gird thy heavenly armor on,
Wear it ever, night and day;
Ambush'd lies the Evil One:
"Watch and pray."
Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
Him thou lovest to obey;
Hide within thy heart His words:
"Watch and pray."
Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day;
Pray that help may be sent down:
"Watch and pray."
