Text: Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

Further Reading: Matthew 26:38-45

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

MESSAGE

There is a proverb in my local language that says that watchfulness is the charm of the elder. This statement can not be truer than in the case of the soldier of Christ. A soldier who is not watchful may be blindsided and attacked unexpectedly. Nothing is as dangerous in warfare as a sudden attack. Even after the greatest victory, the true soldier of Christ does not relax but remains watchful.

Jesus told the disciples that they must watch and pray. Watchfulness makes a Christian combat-ready and not easily captured by the devil. Watchfulness entails discipline, it requires physical, mental, and spiritual alertness. To be watchful as a soldier of Christ is to stay awake praying while others are snoring or playing.

The Lord told Peter and the rest of the disciples, can you not watch with me an hour before He made this outstanding statement:

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41 NKJV

What Jesus meant by this statement is that it takes watchfulness to keep safe from temptation. The enemy of your soul is out there to get you. He is waging all sorts of war against your soul just to bring you down. You must learn to always be on guard and alert.

How do you watch? There are a few ways to watch as a good soldier of Christ. The first way is to watch your own life. You must check yourself if you are still standing firm in your resolve and conviction to serve the Lord (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Jesus said that in the last days that many people’s love for Him will wax cold (Matthew 24:12). Many sound and strong soldiers because they refuse to watch their lives became victims of self-indulgence. Is there any habit or behavior that you have been pampering? Knock it off your life and clean up your heart.

Another area you must watch out for is deliberate worldly institutions and rules that have been made to jeopardize your faith. The devil knows that he may not get you to sin willingly so he set up government and social policies rules and laws that contradict your faith. You can not accept everything, you must not accept everything. Any anti-Christ system must be rejected and you must stand firm in your beliefs. Remember, you are not of this world even though you live in the world.

You should also watch what you say, the things you eat, your conduct, and every other aspect of your life.

Finally, you must be a watchman over your home and family. You are the first line of defense against the enemy attack. You must also stand before God on behalf of men. You are not only called to watch for yourself alone but for other people around you.

REFLECTION

But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

Luke 12:39 NKJV

Always be watchful and combat-ready because the enemy is working round the clock like a wounded serpent ready to strike.

PRAYER

Father, please help me to always stay alert and prayerful. Keep the enemy far away from me.