ASLC Devotions - Saturday

Mark 14:38
Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Training and practice are how we grow strong, physically and spiritually. But HOW do we train to keep temptation from overcoming us??????  “Keep awake and pray,” Jesus instructs the disciples. Does “keep awake” mean to be alert, watchful, on guard, or literally not to sleep (I’m out of the game if I can’t sleep)?  And pray?  Once a week, once a day, an hour, a minute???  And pray WHAT? I like specific directions.

I searched World Wide Web for other people’s ideas on the verse.  After page 14 on Google, I can summarize with:  We need to be alert for temptations and pray for God’s help to overcome them.  We need to trust that God will carry us through.  That’s the hard part; we need to practice trusting completely in God.   

You know the old saying: “God won’t give you what He can’t take you through.”

Adrienne Bolbot

Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and join us this weekend for the Third Sunday in Lent. Worship is at 8:30 and 11 and Education Hour is at 9:45.