October 1

Watchmen

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 107:23-32 | Isaiah 62:6-65:25 | Philippians 2:19-3:4 | Proverbs 24:13-14

Today’s Scripture Focus: Isaiah 62-65

I’ve posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. Day and night they keep at it, praying, calling out, reminding God to remember. They are to give him no peace until he does what he said, until he makes Jerusalem famous as the City of Praise (Isaiah 62:6-7 The Message).

Through Isaiah, God has given a glorious vision of what Jerusalem is to become. But as with any God-given vision, it must be prayed into existence. Isaiah had the hard work of praying to receive the vision. The Watchmen had the hard work of praying the vision into reality.

Watchmen are the serious prayer warriors who give God no rest until he fulfills his promises and accomplishes the vision he has given. Some assume that once they’ve received a vision from God of what is to be accomplished, that the hard work of prayer is over. The watchmen know that the hard work of persistent prayer has only begun.

Every church and ministry needs watchmen. They catch the God-given vision and pray it into existence. They know the promises of God and pray them into reality.

Watchmen also “watch”–they look for the attacks of the enemy that would seek to thwart the good things God wants to do. They pray prayers of protection and resistance. They pray a shield of protection around the ministry, its leaders and its people.

It is not an easy job to be a watchman, but it is essential. Churches and ministries need the protection of faithful prayer warriors. They need those who can pray the vision and promises into being.  They need those who will persist in prayer until they see the answer. Perhaps God is calling and shaping you to be one who “watches and prays.” Be faithful with the prayer burdens he gives and be encouraged as he uses you in praying for his will to be done “on earth as it is in heaven.”

God, help me to learn to watch and pray. Help me to be sensitive to the burden you place on my heart. Enable me to persevere in prayer until your kingdom comes and your will is done. Amen.