“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation….
The Spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38)

When your Spirit knows what your Lord desires of you, then your Spirit must demand supremacy over the flesh. However, the flesh does not easily retire to take “the back seat.” There will be times when sleep must be denied – even though you may be depleted in strength. However, should the Lord commission you to a night vigil in prayer, you simply must obey.

Reflecting on the earthly life of our Lord, during the crucial moments of His ministry, we observe all hell was being marshaled to defeat Him. Even though this could be a highly favorable season for His closest friends to unite with Him in fervent prayer, it was not so. Just imagine: the Lord of the universe stated blatantly that He was deeply distressed, even to the point of death! Surely a friend can understand such a crisis… But they could not find the strength to obey His request. Instead, he found them asleep – over
and over again! Mind you, this is what took place in the most tumultuous moments of human history!

A few potent questions to ask oneself at times like this, in each of our lives are:

• Am I fulfilling the ministry of intercession in the hidden depths of my life?
• Am I focused, or do I permit my spiritual life to waste away?
• Is my Lord and Master increasingly the dominant force in my life?

There is no room to be boastful in true intercession. It is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit which glorifies the Father. I believe Jesus calls us to join Him in what He is doing. It may require learning to deny ourselves in order to experience:

1. A greater level of obedience to the Master
2. The joy of union with Jesus
3. Mastering a new degree of self-control

May we never impede the Spirit as we venture into glorious depths in prayer.