In the Garden With Jesus - a Lent Journey for TeensSample

Watch and pray

A church leader in the east once said: “You can teach us to pray and we can teach you to keep watch.” In Western culture, we have put a lot of focus on prayer, whereas the Christians in the East focus on keeping watch.

To keep watch means to be awake, aware and conscious. It revolves around not being unconscious in your inner state.

Paul echoes this command when he tells the Christians to awake, and arise (Eph. 5:14). They are physically awake, after all, they are reading his letter, but they are totally unaware of bigger, invisible realities that exist, and of the Father’s activity and what is happening.

The disciples with Jesus weren’t aware of everything that was happening or of how big and important the moment was. It was a crossroads in Jesus’ life, and He had big decisions to make. He could get out, take a different path. He realises His hour has come (Matt 24:45). Meanwhile, His closest friends are sleeping.

Through this, we are invited to a deeper awareness; to be aware of where I am, with whom I am, what is happening within me, and where God is in all of this. Prayer is the vehicle we take to this life of deeper awareness. Jesus is inviting us to follow Him on this road He is traveling.

Exercise:

Ask Holy Spirit to make you aware of places and spaces where you can become more aware and awake to His presence in your life.

Prayer:

God, I ask for a deep awareness of Your love for me and Your work in me.