SUBWAYMy wife and I discussed the above topic during one of our recent talk show segments and I felt compelled to write about it. It was a very interesting and stimulating discussion on the importance of using prayer along with attentive observation. In fact, Jesus spoke very clearly on this subject to his disciples in Matthew 26:41, when he said: “Keep watching and praying so that you do not enter into temptation…” He said this immediately after admonishing them earlier in the same chapter for not ‘watching’ with Him as He lay dying in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
I would like to stop here and ask why we are often willing to pray but often unwilling to do the due diligence of vigilant watchfulness. I wonder if it is because we have become comfortable with the idea of serving an omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God, who is capable of doing all things. Maybe we think that if we just have a little talk with Jesus and tell Him all our problems, we can just sit back, put our feet up, and let Him handle everything for us. I think differently. It is our responsibility to both watch and pray because our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for his next victim to devour. Basically, it comes down to the fact that we’re in a fight. I would say the worst kind of fight you can be in is one where you didn’t even realize you were in a fight. As Christians, we are engaged in spiritual warfare every day.
Spiritual lethargy and complacency will make you an easy target for a sneak attack. In boxing, it’s not the punch you see that does the most damage…it’s the punch you don’t see that usually knocks you out. Just ask Manny Pacquiao! Even as a nation, we can see the consequences of not being vigilant. The terrorists who attacked our great nation on September 11 knew they could not go head-to-head and fight the world’s preeminent superpower. However, they realized that they could deliver a killing blow if we weren’t paying attention. So while our country was preoccupied with President Bill Clinton’s sexual misconduct and subsequent impeachment proceedings, we didn’t even notice the terrorists who were planning an assault on our nation right under our noses.
We witnessed last year in Newtown, Connecticut how someone in full combat gear, armed with assault weapons, was able to break into an elementary school and cause death and destruction. Well, the same rule applies in this spiritual fight with the enemy. We fight against an enemy that comes to kill, steal and destroy. We are fighting an enemy who doesn’t think twice before attacking our finances, our friends, and our family…as long as it ultimately results in our demise. That is why the apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 2:11 not to ignore the wiles of the enemy. So yes, while praying is important, being vigilant and aware of your enemy is just as important.
I’m not a huge fan of Floyd Mayweather, but I do admire his talent and ability in the ring. It’s no wonder why he is considered by many to be one of the greatest “pound for pound” boxers of all time. In one of his recent fights, he received a lot of criticism for knocking out one of his opponents while they weren’t paying attention. The other fighter actually turned to say something to the ref for a split second and Floyd proceeded to tap his chin. After watching the replay, I was initially upset because it looked like he had hit a defenseless opponent. Then I had to remember the most important rule in boxing. Once the bell rings, you’re supposed to walk out with your hands up. Your opponent is not required to wait until he is absolutely, positively, one hundred percent sure that you are ready to fight. The same is true with regard to the devil. He specializes in waiting for an opportunity to attack you when you’re most vulnerable, especially when you’re not paying attention. That’s why I think Floyd Mayweather said it perfectly, “Protect yourself at all times.” To that end, I implore you to watch as well as pray.