Divided

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

I have found it...my life verse.  This is me in every area of my life; from my physical struggles to the ongoing spiritual battles I seem to face.  During the Lord's supper this past Sunday, this verse came to me.  I looked it up in Matthew Henry--expecting to see pages upon pages of spiritual reflection.  There was nothing.

So I looked at the verse....really looked.  I get the second sentence because it's what I experience first hand.  Yes, my spirit desires to do right.  I have a strong sense of where I need to be.  And yes, I also know that my flesh is extremely weak.  I'll do for a little while then trail away.....do for a little while then.......  I get that.  

Then I look at the beginning:  watch & pray.  Two key words that will keep the flesh at bay.  Maybe I can't afford to be too tired in the mornings to spend time with God.  Maybe the t.v. needs to be turned off when there is studying or praying to do.  

What always blows me away is the disciples had Christ Himself with them...in the flesh.  And yet, they fell asleep when He asked them to pray.  Peter denied Him three times and His ways at times left them confused.  So if they had a hard time then I'm in the good because I don't have the physical Christ with me.

No, not good.  We have Christ with us and His Spirit inside us to guide and strengthen as needed.  Plus we have the advantage of His Word...powerful two edged sword.  So I'm divided---literally; but that is okay.  It helps at times to understand but it should be never be used as an excuse not to keep doing better.

The school year begins tomorrow.....I had a great summer.  My goal with the Spirit's guidance is to watch and pray....lest I enter into temptation.