Week 6 — Thursday: Keep Watching

Matthew 26:40-41 

Preemptive prayer was one of the weapons in my dad’s spiritual arsenal that he wielded and taught often. I regret not learning earlier. 

In the garden the night before the cross, Jesus tried to teach Peter this lesson. He knew Peter would be tempted beyond his ability to withstand, and the cure was to pray. Instead, Peter slept and learned the hard way. 

As a young adult, I knew nothing of the power of prayer. I went blindly into college without a vital connection with Jesus, unaware and unconcerned about the enemy’s plans. One bad decision led to another. If faith were a boat, mine would be shipwrecked for several years. Eventually, like Peter, I needed to face Jesus and admit my failure and sin. 

I was met with a response from God that would change my life. Rather than shame and guilt, I experienced all-consuming kindness and compassion. Prayer became the place where I received from God all that I had been seeking elsewhere. From that point, a bond of loving dependence took hold. 

Healing came through daily time in communion with Him and the cleansing power of the Word. Here, in the quiet alone hours before the day began, God taught me how to preemptively pray through whatever I face. 

Preempt: to acquire or appropriate something in advance; to seize the opportunity before anyone else can; to defeat other plans ahead of time. 

Prayer is the place where God’s plans thwart other plans. It is where we fight the good fight of faith before we face temptation. As we listen to the warnings and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are equipped for this present evil age. 

—CONTRIBUTED BY COLLEEN FRAIOLI—

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