Stay Awake...

First of all, I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend and, I also hope you spent some time thanking those (men and women of our armed forces) who make this nation so great and gave us the very freedom we enjoy.

Now, my typical “blogs” are usually highlights or outlines of messages I have spoken on Wednesdays at Renovate. But today, I want to just encourage you to… Stay Awake… and Pray!

Mark 14: 37-41 says, “Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Wow, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to found “sleeping”, when Christ has asked us to “watch & pray”. All of us have something in our lives that needs God to intervene in. Something only He can help with. With so much going on around us, now is the time to “stay awake” and talk to God about these situations.

This Friday evening (May 29^th) beginning at 8PM at our church offices, our student ministry (Renovate) is hosting a 24 hour pray time. Students are going to coming throughout the night and day praying for various things. But most importantly, I hope, they will be drawing closer to God! Believe me, there were some puzzled looks as if to ask, “Are you kidding?” when we first announced this idea. Then I posed this question, and maybe you should ask yourself this as well, “What are you willing to give up to see God do something miraculous in your life, or the life of someone around you, your favorite TV program, your nap time, your favorite book or even plans you have made with your friends?” For an adult, that is though, but imagine what is being asked of a student. God has called us to do just that…

So, as we pray for our nation, families, church and needs around us this week, I want to encourage you to find some time to push away from your “normal routine” and “watch and pray”. Remember, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Be strong and allow God to meet your every need.

May God bless you and everyone around you!
PS