How alert are you?

 
Mark 14:37-38 Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. "Simon!" he said to Peter. "Are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour? Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak."

How alert are you? Are you on guard, watching lest you fall into temptation? Are you standing guard over your soul and protecting it from danger? Are you fighting against the allurements of sin so that your soul will be healthy and fit for our King?

So often, we want to stay strong and healthy. We don't want to fail in our battles with sin. We want to live in victory. But, we find our flesh is weak. As much as we may want to not sin against God, we find ourselves doing it. All it takes is letting down our guard for a moment and Satan will find our weakness and exploit it. He is very patient and will pounce on us at any given moment. He can't do anything to us as long as we are under the protection of Christ, but we are fair game when we are out of His protection.

Keep alert and pray! You must pray if you want to stay alert. You must pray if you want to be able to not sin. You must pray to keep Jesus as your defender and protector. You must pray in order to keep yourself strong in your weaknesses. If you don't pray, don't be surprised at Satan's victories over you.

Oh, and by the way, how alert are you when it comes to others: your loved ones, friends, and even your church family? Are you asleep or are you watching and praying? I suspect that the reason why so many people and churches have fallen asleep or drifted away from God is because those who are on guard duty have fallen asleep. Don't let Satan rock you asleep; stay alert and vigilantly pray.