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Dec 30, 2022 18:30pm

The Flesh is Weak

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Sitting with my coffee, I spent the first 20 minutes just trying to wake up. Shaun and PawPaw headed to the deer stand, so I slept in just a little this morning.

It was a restless night. I woke up several times and, at 1:14, I awoke from a nightmare. “It wasn’t real” I kept telling myself. After laying there for 5 minutes trying to convince myself of that very thing, I got up, turned the fan to face me and got back into bed, only using a sheet for cover. Nightmares always come when I get hot in my sleep.

So, when Shaun’s 5:00 am alarm went off, I just rolled over for a bit more sleep.

I opened my Bible to begin reading, but I always start with prayer. One of the first things I asked the Lord was to help me focus during my prayer and my reading. Do you ever find yourself drifting during prayer? I’m talking to the Lord and all of a sudden, I’m thinking about that dream again and all the details. Or I start thanking Him for the boys being able to hunt and then I say it again and again, and by the fourth time I realize I’m falling asleep. I kept pleading that He would keep me awake and help me to focus, but my mind kept drifting and sleep wanted to take over.

I thought, I’ll finish my prayer and just begin reading and that will help me wake up and stay awake.

And wouldn’t you know, God was showing me something even through that.

“And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.” (Matthew 26:40-46)

In the past, I know I’ve read this and thought, “what’s wrong with these men?! Why couldn’t they stay up with Jesus? This was their best friend, their Messiah, the One who they had spent years with and He needed them, and yet they couldn’t stay awake to pray?”

And here I am, doing the same thing.

As much as I wanted to focus on my prayer this morning, sleep was winning. Maybe my judgment of them isn’t as harsh anymore. Maybe I understand just a bit more of their struggle. The scripture says their eyes were heavy. I can’t imagine how tired they were with the journey they had been on, little food, and stress of knowing something was coming.

Jesus’ statement rings true: the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Do you feel that?

You have a desire to do as the Lord says, but then your flesh gets in the way.

It’s a daily battle.

So, this morning, let me encourage you. Keep trying. Don’t give up just because you messed up. Run to the Father, confess and repent. Turn away from that and try again… and again… and again.