Watch and Pray

Daily Scripture Threshing for Monday, August 14, 2023

Today’s Text: Mark 14:32-42

Key Verse: Mark 14:38 (ESV): “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Isn’t it so easy for the enemy to beset most Christians today? The generation already seems compliant to compromise so that it is almost no more necessary for the enemy to roar like the lion, or threaten anyone with the stake. The generation’s level of watchfulness and dedication to prayer has been long lost to materialism, sensuality, activism and religious jamborees. People now do easily slip into sleep when we are supposed to be praying.

Today, the devil no longer has need of any prince of Persia or principalities to unsettle and derail most people. The watch and pray generations are almost forgotten. Therefore, Satan only needs to cause a dosing and most people are caught off guard, and go right into a deep sleep. Peter, James and John were in deep sleep when they were supposed to be soaked in deep praying.“Couldn't you watch one hour?” it a simile to more emphatically and vividly depict how short lived their determination and endurance was.

Our generation claims it loves the Master; perhaps yes, but we seem not to love the world any less. We would serve any master and blame it on “the spirit is willing, but, the flesh is weak.” Our Lord understands the nature of the human flesh, especially in the hour of testing. So, He gives us key — watch and pray! In the days of His flesh, Jesus as well felt the weakness of the flesh when He said, “let the cup pass.” But, by prayer, He was able to pursue the interest of the spirit. He said, “not my will but yours be done!”

Quote for the Day: “The earth has never seen any superhuman beside Jesus. If he was tempted, we too would. And any believer can be caught unaware if we do not continually watch and pray.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to be fully awake in my spirit, soul, and body, and watch unto prayer every day so that I may not enter into temptation — in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

For further inquiry and free spiritual help, visit or write:

The Darling Bishop,

2321 S Belt Line Rd., Suite 144

Grand Prairie TX 75051 USA

+1 (407) 360-8280; (817) 822-8441

[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA distributed for free use by individuals, small groups, families, and Christian churches]

Send | Share | Subscribe | Support