Be Watchful
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41 (NIV)
In this one short verse Jesus tells us how to avoid falling into behaviors that take us where we don’t want to go.
Be Watchful
The sentry’s eyes always watch for trouble. Being watchful means that we:
- Don’t let our guard down by saying that we can relax because we’ve had a victory or two,
- Don’t let our mind wonder from what’s important, keeping our hearts and minds focused upon Christ and obeying His commandments,
- Don’t go to places where we know we’ll be tempted such as places where we used to buy porn, questionable websites, pay cable television, night clubs, etc.
- Use appropriate safeguards to protect ourselves such as accountability partners and internet blocking software,
- Don’t take that second look when we’ve seen something that makes our mind wonder,
- Watch our thoughts and use thought stopping techniques when we find lust creeping in,
- Stay sharp by reading and studying God’s word so that our minds become more like his mind,
- Don’t place our trust in our own abilities to lead lives of purity–but give our lives to God,
- Study our weaknesses and character flaws so that we know what situations can lead us astray,
- Constantly read and learn new techniques to stay pure,
- Don’t stay isolated from others
Pray
Jesus said the we should pray so that you will not fall into temptation. Prayer is a marvelous weapon against the enemy. It is listed as one of the things we should do while wearing the armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) Prayer has many benefits. It:
- Keeps us close to God,
- Keeps our hearts and minds turned towards God,
- Helps us not fall into temptation,
- Changes our lives for the better,
- Allows God to reach into our lives,
- Allows us to tell God about our lives and needs,
- Allows us to bring petitions to God,
- Helps us overcome the schemes of the enemy.
The way to avoid temptation altogether is to watch and pray before the temptation arrives. While all of us will face temptation, we don’t have to fall into it. We can live victorious lives and Jesus, in a short simple sentence says it best, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
