Willing Spirit and Weak Flesh
Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same… And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26.35, 40-41)
Have you ever bragged like Peter when he said, "I will not deny you!"? Did your subsequent actions support your claim - whatever it was?
We can learn from Peter's weakness:
· Peter made his claim in front of the other disciples, and then they “said the same.” There is something about being with a crowd of enthusiastic and bombastic people that causes us to boast. We want to appear to be strong, superior, invincible. Be very careful about what you claim before others. Both you and they may have to eat a little crow!
· When Peter had opportunity to pray for Jesus, he slept! Despite repeated warnings, Peter just couldn’t make himself pray. The time we need prayer the most is when we find it the hardest to pray. Try to get better at pushing through the hindrances to prayer.
· Peter was indeed a courageous man, but the flesh that was weak in spiritual warfare proved to be weak in physical crisis. The flesh will revolt against us in times of crisis. When we pray, we garner strength and courage for the battle!
· “When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Even truer: “When you fail to pray, you plan to fail.” Watchful prayer is the most effective barrier to spiritual failure, to emotional fatigue, to bad attitudes, and to poor decisions. One hour spent in prayer, in the scriptures, and in spiritual reflection prepares you for 23 hours on the go!
Lord, I don't want to be a person of empty claims and broken promises. Help me to garner strength from you through prayer. Amen.
1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.