Daily Affirmations - Day 3 - Are You Able? - In the Watches of the Night
- Alisa B.
- Apr 7
- 2 min read
Day 3: In the watches of the night
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
O Lord, You are He who loves us, and has freed us from our sins by Your blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve Your God and Father— to You be glory and power for ever and ever! (Revelation 1:5-6).
You have assigned us the priestly role and privilege of prayer, commissioning us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6:18). This is no small responsibility, given the weight of all that rests on our prayers.
You have entrusted to us the prayer needs of a troubled, broken hurting, world— our families, friends, neighbors, communities, nations, and governments— with the instruction to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17 - NKJV). You have given us the promise of the keys of access to heaven (Matthew 16:19), and grace on behalf of others (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
And for Your household of faith You have given us the charge to bear one another's burdens... (Galatians 6:2 - NJKV), and the responsibility for constant, watchful prayer: Be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people (Ephesians 6:18). You have instructed us to pray, "Let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done" (Matthew 6:10), teaching us the staggering significance of our prayers.
Lord! Help us! We confess that our eyes are often heavy (Matthew 26:43), and we do not watch and keep vigil as we should. Like the disciples we struggle to stay alert in the hour of betrayal, the hour of trouble, the hour of overwhelming sorrow. Like them, we drowse in the hour of desperation, failing to seek mercy and grace to help... in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Jesus, our world is dark. Our times are dire. Rouse us from sleep. Strengthen our weak flesh. Teach us the urgency of the prophet Jeremiah, who called on Your people in a time of desperation to recognize their plight, and to raise their cries to heaven:
Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at every street corner (Lamentations 2:19).
Watch and pray, nor let us ever weary;
Jesus watched and prayed alone;
Prayed for us when only stars beheld Him,
While on Olive’s brow they shone.
~ Frances J. Crosby ~ 1885
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