Keep Watch And Pray

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

—Mark 14:38 (NLT)

Merciful Father,

Help me always to watch and pray—so that I will not give in to temptation.

Apart from You I know that I am powerless to resist those seemingly relentless, but subtle temptations to leave the path that You have set me on and travel down another path—one that ultimately leads to sin, destruction and death.

So help me to keep my eyes locked on You and make the greatest desire of my heart to be in Your presence.  For in Your perfect presence I will never lose my way.

Deep within my heart, my spirit cries out to do only what pleases You, but my weak and weary body cries out to only satisfy its own desires—and tells me just to take care of myself.

Help me to quiet my flesh so I can hear the promptings of Your Holy Spirit—as You speak to my spirit and unfold Your best plan before me—and allow You to take care of me, as only You can.

Keep me awake, alert and on guard against the temptations that will inevitably come my way—actively committed to submitting my will to Yours, in order to fulfill Your plan for my life.

And when I am tempted, help me to immediately turn to You in prayer and ask for Your power—that same power that raised Christ from the dead—that I might overcome the temptations and stay on the path that leads to life and peace.

Help me always to watch and pray—so that I will not give in to temptation.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.