Watch and Pray!

Beginning this year of 2014, I had gotten the word of the importance of praying and the scripture was found in Matthew 26:36-46.....36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." (NKJV)

I had taken this scripture to the Prayer Meeting that I lead at the House in Vancouver at the first of the year.  I sensed by the Holy Spirit's leading of the importance of praying, but also to being spiritually aware that it was more about being watchful to the degree of being fully awake to do something specific.


In growing up in the south, one grows accustomed to watching the skies especially in the hot, summer months. Although tornadoes could occur early in April, one usually did not watch consistently till May came. The weather man was our best friend at that time. We became very knowledgeable of what to look for in the sky and where to look. If anything even appeared black and ominous in the southwest sky, my hands would become sweaty and my heart would begin this loud beating that I could feel all the way down to my feet. Even now, I feel anxious thinking about those days.
Watching and praying should give us that earnest desire to seek prayer, not only for ourselves but also for others. The Bible gives us examples of those who sat passively waiting. In the scripture text in the parables of the 10 virgins, (Matthew 25:1-13) emphasized the importance of staying spiritually prepared. We each are to keep our lamp filled with oil that represents the presence of the Holy Spirit. We are to be filled to the brim with His presence. We are to keep watch, and to pray the word of God into our families, our communities, our churches, pray for the those in the Northwest and to pray for our government.

We knew not the hour the tornado might appear! Sometimes it did, but many times the storm turned another direction, or it just fizzled out.
My point is, we should not take any thing for granted. This world is on a collision course with destiny and the devil. One thing that is certain, is that we win! Yes, those who follow and stay in His presence, are those who are abiding in that secret place of the Almighty God. Our prayer should be our lifestyle and be a part of us that is always evident, always noticeable as a part of who we are created  to be in this life. In John 15:5-8 states, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch & is withered; & they gather them & throw them into the fire, & they are burned. 7  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you desire, & it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.  (NKJV)

For whatever thing we pray for, God is in our midst. Abiding in HIM, is allowing His word access into our lives, into our community, our church and into the leaders of this great country we live.
If I do not pray, there is NO FUTURE!
We should not be complacent in praying!

• Prayer brings communication with God who brings ADVENTURES into our lives
• Prayer causes us to turn outward as we pray for others
• Prayer always causes us to stay close to our Father
• Prayer teaches us to be RECEIVERS and not beggars

Keep watching! " Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming----in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning----lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV) 

What are We Expecting Today?

Do we rise in the morning with no expectation of seeing or accomplishing anything of value as to another, or looking for the miraculous of God's hand intervening in our lives to know He is with us?

Are we seated in the seat of being complacent or do we fan the fire in our bellies to move forward to see the glory of God in our lives, and in those we pray for each day?

We will always find strength in prayer. When we pray the Word of God with the expectancy of seeing the unseen, we believe and trust for the miraculous in our lives.

In the years I ministered at the jail or in the Women's Shelter, I was always coming in to contact with some who thought when they received Jesus as Lord that all their problems would go away. Some thought they would acquire the "rose garden" and move through life without a worry!

As the Lord gave us favor to minister there, we continued to remind people, especially the ladies that in the Bible there are references to women like Hannah who had a painful life. She was the woman who shared her husband with another woman. The other extreme was that Hannah had no children with her husband.

We all can have some kind of painful experience and some may last for years. But when we go to scripture on Hannah, we can remind ourselves of the trust this woman had in her God.

When we move through each sentence describing her life with her husband, to the relationship with the other woman and the lack of no children, we view Hannah as the abused even within her own home.

But true stands the testimony that her worship was to her God. Even though she suffered terribly by verbal abuse from the other woman, Hannah never stopped sharing her heart with the Lord. She would pray out (1 Samuel 1:10) to the Lord and express the pain she was dealing with in her life.

Whatever the total amount of problems in her marriage, she always gained strength in prayer!

So do I rise in the morning with no expectation of seeing or accomplishing anything of value for say my family? Do  I rise today and look for the hand of the ALL MIGHTY GOD to show His arm strong in my life? Will today be just about me and my selfishness and pleasure or is my life set for the godly purpose to God's plan as was Hannah's?

Prayer should be our life-line straight to God's hearing. As we see in the scripture, Hannah devoted herself to prayer and expressed her confidence in the Lord for the answers she so desperately needed.

Will our lives mirror hers in relationship to the Lord? Will we continue to keep communication lines open in prayer and expect God's hand and power to flow in and through our circumstances?

Hannah, was wanting a child, and she got a son who she gave to the Lord. Hannah got her desire and willing gave without hesitation her child to the Lord's service. What faith! What true beauty of trust this woman had in the Lord! No matter the tribulation or trial, Hannah came through victoriously. She had a wonderful reason to praise the Lord. In all of her praise and thankfulness in heart, she received more children in her union with her husband.

No, it is not a "rose garden" and trials come and go, but our expectancy is in the Lord. For He will do valiantly, and the more our trust is in Him, the more ease and peace we will rest in knowing He has our back.

"Lord, stir us today to be powerful. Cause prayer to be as natural to us as breathing is to us. Today we come with praise and worship and through this prayer, we pour out our hearts before You! We need direction in our lives. We will not hesitate to give You honor and praise, as we fellowship with You, and as we pray to You, we have Your ear that hears us speak the desire of our heart.  We desire to co-operate with You and receive instruction for what we may face today. We thank You for illuminating situations we may not understand. We are thankful for the light of Your Word to come into those places we need to see and to make decisions made in truth, integrity and without pain and difficulty. We say thank YOU Lord, for showing and revealing to us the hidden things we need to know. We give thanks for Your wisdom and all things You have given to us that pertain to life and godliness. Thank You in advance of any warnings we may need. Thank You for the good plan You have for us today. As we keep step with You, we know You will continue to show us all the wonderful information You have coming to us today in Jesus' name. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV)