One command that we are given again and again in the New Testament is to be spiritually alert—to be alert and on guard in the spiritual battle in which we are engaged. And one of the main ways we stay vigilant is by fervently praying in the Spirit.

Colossians 4:2—"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

1 Peter 4:7—"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”

Matthew 26:41—“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

In the verse quoted from Matthew, Jesus gave this admonition to his disciples on the night when he was betrayed as they were gathered in the Garden of Gethsemane. When Jesus says ‘Watch and pray,’ he is not merely saying, ‘Stay awake and pray,’ which of course they did not do. ‘Watch and pray’ means be spiritually watchful and alert and pray. We know this because he says, ‘Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ Jesus knew the great trial of faith that was to come upon each one of them when he would be arrested. Satan would fire a barrage of arrows of doubt, despair, hopelessness, fear, and unbelief, and Jesus urged them, ‘Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ Watch and pray that you may be vigilant and on guard for spiritual battle.

And so God beckons to each of us as well, ‘Watch and pray. Be watchful in prayer. Be sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.’ A Christian who is lax and sluggish in prayer is a soldier who is drowsy while on guard. He is a sitting duck for the attacks of the Evil One. He will be spiritually sluggish and will not have a mind that is set on things above. He will not be walking by the Spirit. He will not be quick to resist the Devil’s attacks. He will not love God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength.  If we would be spiritually vigilant and a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ, then we must be watchful in prayer.

We often speak of ‘prayer warriors,’ and there is a lot of truth in that phrase. We are in a spiritual battle, and God has ordained that his kingdom advances through the prayers of his people. And therefore one of the great works that God has called us to be devoted to is prayer. We are to be watchful in prayer. We are to be fervent in prayer. We are to be steadfast in prayer.

This is why it is so critical for a church to be devoted to prayer, both in our private prayer closets and in our corporate prayer meetings. We must remain watchful by lifting our voice in praises and thanksgiving to our great God, to remember the promises of God regarding the advance of his Kingdom and plead with God that he would bring them to pass, to intercede on behalf of our brothers and sisters in our church family that they would grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to plead on behalf of our unsaved family members and neighbors and Vermonters that God’s Spirit might move powerfully and effectually call many to himself through the preaching of the Gospel.

As John Newton once said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan.”