April 29, 2024 … Watch and Pray …

April 29, 2024 …  Watch and Pray  …      

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Matthew West singing … Don’t Stop Praying … Powerfully singing of how we Christians must NEVER STOP PRAYING for what we’re desperate for in our battles for God’s Kingdom. 

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Highlight Passage: … Ephesians 6:18 [NLT] …

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.           

…  Paul charges us Christians to be vigilant and disciplined to pray                                                  

Highlight Passage (in context)  … Ephesians 6:10-20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to prepare for Spiritual warfare in life by putting on the full armor of God offered by God to help us be successful in the battles of life.                        

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 26:41  [NLT] …  

41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”   

… Jesus warns His disciples (and all Christians) to avoid temptations or trials by keeping watch and pray.      

Reference Passage: … Luke 21:36  [NLT] …  

36 Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”   

… Jesus warns His followers to keep alert and to pray that they (we) stay strong to battle the coming warfare in God’s kingdom.  

Reference Passage:… 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians to stand firm and never stop praying for God to help us in the battles of life.     

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:8 [NLT] … 

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 

…Peter charges fellow Christians to ALWAYS stay alert because Satan, our constant enemy, prowls around like a lion to devour those who don’t stay alert.     

<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> … Revelation 16:15 [NLT] … </b> 

<i> 15  “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for Me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” </i> 

…God reveals that myriads of angels will surround the Lord in heaven.                

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Marvin Williams -  AT THIS LINK  -  relates a story about a Florida woman who was praying while driving one day and had her eyes closed, trying to pray diligently; but the woman didn’t heed the second part of God’s warning from His word (see Scriptures cited above) and that is to “STAY ALERT.”  The woman was cited for reckless driving going thru a stotlight with her eyes closed praying and driving into someone’s yard.       

Though true, the story probably is a bit extreme to illustrate God’s call for His followers to stay alert and pray diligently for God to watch over all who do battle daily in His name and for His glory.  And I’m praying - RIGHT NOW - for all of us, who claim to be Christ’s disciples in the battles of this life, to ALWAYS stay alert and, as Mathew West sings in the linked long, to NEVER stop praying!                                                            

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for Your enabling grace to stay alert in prayer for Your protection.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to stay alert and to pray for You, Lord, to watch over those of us doing battle in Your name   … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.