Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Ephesians 6:18.
Prayer and watching thereunto are necessary for advancement in the divine life…. Your only safety is to live like a watchman. Watch and pray always. Oh, what a preventive against yielding to temptation and falling into the snares of the world!
“Take ye heed, watch and pray.” Mark 13:13….
First, you are to watch. Watch, lest you should speak hastily, fretfully, and impatiently. Watch, lest pride should find a place in your heart. Watch, lest evil passions should overcome you, instead of your subduing them. Watch, lest … you … become light and trifling, and your influence savor of death, rather than life.
Second, you are to pray. Jesus would not have enjoined this upon you, unless there was actual necessity for it. It is well known to Him that of yourself you cannot overcome the many temptations of the enemy, and the many snares laid for your feet. He has not left you alone to do this; but has provided a way that you can obtain help. Therefore He has bid you to pray.
To pray aright is to ask God in faith for the very things you need. Go to your chamber, or in some retired place, and ask your Father for Jesus’ sake to help you. There is power in that prayer that is sent up from a heart convinced of its own weakness, yet earnestly longing for that strength that comes of God. The earnest, fervent prayer will be heard and answered….
Faint not. Cast yourself at the feet of Jesus, who has been tempted, and knows how to help such as are tempted…. Plead your case before God, through Jesus, until your soul can with confidence rely upon Him for strength, and you feel that you are not left to do the work of overcoming alone. God will help you. Angels will watch over you. But before you can expect this help, you must do what you can on your part. Watch and pray.
The Faith I Live By p. 224
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Prayer Requests
—-My daughter at uni and not feeling well, please pray for God’s healing hands on her. Rosemary
—-My children need God’s guidance. Pray for that. Buck
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Dear Friends,
When Ron and I were first married, we determined that we would have worship each morning and evening regardless of circumstances. We wanted to establish our home on a good foundation “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” Eph 2:20 Next month, we will have been married for 51 years. During that time, we have rarely missed our morning and evening worship time.
As our children were born, we especially used the worship time to teach them of Jesus and His infinite love, heeding Moses’ admonition, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deut. 6:5-7 Worship was their favorite time of the day, as we would adapt God’s Word to their understanding telling them Bible stories, reading to them their Sabbath School lesson and other books about Jesus as well as from the Bible.
There were times when we would get home late and would be tempted to go to bed without worship. Our children would ask, “Aren’t we going to have worship?” It was the most important time of the day to them as well as to us and they didn’t want to miss it. No matter how late it was or how tired we were, we would gather our children around the throne of God through His Holy Word rejoicing that they desired to learn more of their Saviour’s love.
If you have not yet established the family altar, I urge you to do so. It is never too late to start. Jesus has promised, “if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt 18:19,20 Precious promise!
Even if you live alone or live in a spiritually divided household, the family altar can be established through your own private devotions. David’s experience can be ours, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Ps 55:17 As the heart and mind are filled with God’s Word, we realize that we are never alone. We have the fellowship of Jesus Christ our Lord. He has promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb 13:5 He is always at our side leading us, guiding us, protecting us, caring for us.! What security can be ours through this closeness!
May we, if we have not yet done so, worship our Great Redeemer morning and evening as did the patriarchs and prophets of old. May we experience the close fellowship that our Loving Saviour desires to have with us each day is my prayer.
Rose

Watch and Pray