Photo Credit: John Nyberg, FreeImages

I must admit that I sometimes have a very short attention span.  Instead of watching the news, I would rather scan the headlines.   I am a channel surfer and a blog post skimmer.  Yep, I am confessing here for all the world to know.  And, sadly this problem plagues me not only when I am reading The Pioneer Woman, but also when I  sit down for my quiet time with an open Bible before me.  Sad, but true.

For the last few days, however, a phrase out of Proverbs 31 has grabbed my attention:  “She watches over the affairs of her household” (v. 27, NKJV).  My mind has been mulling over what God meant when he said that we Jesus chicks should be “on watch” for our families.  I did a little digging on the passage and was delighted to discover that the Hebrew word translated here as “watches” is the same one used to describe a “watchman” in the Old Testament.  The characteristics of a watchman that I gleaned paralleled qualities that I need to cultivate as a prayer warrior for my family:

• A watchman stood in an elevated perspective to keep the landscape in view and sound a warning if danger drew near.   The guard volunteered to spend time isolated, alert, and faithful.
• The watchman maintained his position with undistracted observation, calm reasoning, circumspect responses.
• The watchman sacrificed personal freedom and exhibited self-control to sacrificially stand in the gap while others slept.
• The watchman armed himself in order to safeguard those entrusted to him.

As I stand in the gap for my family, I must guard my heart (Prov 4:23)  The Apostle Paul challenges:  “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love (I Cor. 16:13-14).  Just as the watchman of old, we must wisely treasure our charges and wear our spiritual armor with vigilance.  If we persevere, God has promised:  “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed.  For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told” (Hab. 1:5).  May God help me purposefully stay “on watch” in prayer.

Let’s Talk:  How has God challenged you in this area?  Any tips on how to “stick to the stuff” spiritually?   I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

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My desire is to lift up holy hands and “Pray Big.” Want to join me? I’ve created a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for like-minded sisters to share their stories and surrender each one to our mountain-moving God in prayer. Let’s cry out to God together.