Praying and Watching. Ephesians 6: 18. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Prayer is a heartfelt appeal or perhaps an urgent request for God to answer and bless the supplicant’s heart. God knows what is best and what to do that will give us rest when life’s storms arise, and we’re in deep distress. The throne of grace is open when life’s problems press and keep us from joy when we seem so depressed, but God is there to give answers of peace. We make our petitions, which we feel are right and consistent with God’s holy will, to Him, who can hear and reveal to us what is needed before we even make our appeal. We can say plainly that if it is His will, He will heal the sin-sick soul and the one who suffers physically. We know He makes right the wrongs that seem so real to us. With strong supplications, we bow down and kneel before God, who has given us eternal life and sealed us with His Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the One who makes all of this happen—He who lays on our hearts this blessed burden for precious souls to be saved. He presses us into the place of affliction so that we, in turn, would earnestly petition our Father above for the lost people of this nation. We pray for the kings and authorities who need God’s salvation and will pray earnestly and trust Him in each situation. Waiting is the hardest; the answers seem slow in coming, and we sometimes, in prayer, let our anxiety show. But in spite of all that, know God has His plans that need time to grow to full development.
So, as I watch, I pray, aware that each task before me is controlled by God Himself until the watching gives way to the light within my soul. Light is reassuring and blessing because that is part of God’s own role. I must consider others whose needs are so great. Many dear brothers and sisters are being crushed under the weight of trying to cope with disasters the world calls “fate.” But I know the difference. The Master may wait until people have tried every scheme they can, and then He steps in, answering the prayers of the saints with grace. Blessings will follow according to God’s own schedule of events.