JESUS goes out of His way to stress the need to “watch and pray” throughout the Gospels. It was usually in the context of His return. To watch and pray is to “live by the Spirit,” says the apostle Paul.


I say then: live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh... (Gal 6:16-17)

The moment most of us begin to live “by the flesh” is first thing in the morning. Why? Because we get up, go through the motions of the day, and think nothing of God. And so, we begin in the flesh, and usually quite grumpily. We allow ourselves to be led by the nose into the “little” sins.

But Peter says,

Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Pt 1:13)

When you rise in the morning, acknowledge God, implore His help, and hang tight to his hand–which is to say, continue to speak with Him throughout the day. We must actively, and willingly set our minds on the things of God, and what He asks of you in the present moment. As Paul says,

Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. (Col 3:2)

I have more to say on this tomorrow, a word which has been welling up in heart my for weeks now. But if we could just focus on this one thing–living by the Spirit by willingly focusing our mind on God’s presence and His command to love–we may not need tomorrow.

It will not guarantee that you will not face temptations, troubles, or even stumble. But if you’re near Christ, you will rise that much more quickly, for He Himself will pick you up.

...take every thought captive in obedience to Christ... (2 Cor 10:5)