Praying and Watching

The other day I read the account of Alban, the first martyr in Britain. It is quite a story, but there was a line in it that really caught my attention:

“[Alban] was yet a pagan, when the cruel Emperors first published their edicts against the Christians, and when he received a clergyman flying from his persecutors into his house as an asylum. Having observed that his guest spent whole days and nights in continual praying and watching…”

This early pastor “spent whole days and nights in continual praying and watching.” I was really touched by this. Not only was he known to spend a whole day or night in prayer – that alone is convicting, he also spent the time in “watching.” I confess, I have not heard much about this and I don’t think I taught on this. Oh, I often stressed watching, but not praying and watching. I was stirred, What is this? How would you do this? I remembered several verses linking the two ideas, so I thought I would look up the verses and then see if I could find what this means.

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Mark 14:38)
Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Now, here are a few thoughts on this from Chrysostom and Adam Clarke. Why these two? I figured Chrysostom would capture what the early church taught and I really like Adam Clarke.

Luke 21:36 
Perhaps we should connect, continually, with, watch, as it appears to be the most natural order. Indeed the word continually belongs equally to both watch and pray; and no man is safe, at any time, who does not attend to this advice as literally as possible. ~ Adam Clarke

Ephesians 6:18 
Watching thereunto— Being always on your guard lest your enemies should surprise you. Watch, not only against evil, but also for opportunities to do good, and for opportunities to receive good. Without watchfulness, prayer and all the spiritual armor will be ineffectual. ~ Adam Clarke

Now mark the wisdom of this blessed Apostle. He has armed them with all security. What then is necessary after that? To call upon the King, that He may stretch forth His hand. “With all prayer, and supplication, praying at all seasons in the Spirit”; for it is possible “to pray” not “in the Spirit,” when one “uses vain repetitions”; “and watching thereunto,” he adds, that is, keeping sober; for such ought the armed warrior, he that stands at the King’s side, to be; wakeful and temperate. ~ Chrysostom

Colossians 4:2 
Continue in prayer— This was the apostle’s general advice to all; without this, neither wives, husbands, children, parents, servants, nor masters, could fulfill the duties which God required of them.
All might, power, and life come from God; his creatures are continually dependent upon him for all these: to earnest, persevering prayer, he has promised every supply; but he who prays not has no promise. How few wives feel it their duty to pray to God to give them grace to behave as wives! How few husbands pray for the grace suited to their situation, that they may be able to fulfill its duties! The like may be said of children, parents, servants, and masters. As every situation in life has its peculiar duties, trials, etc.; so to every situation there is peculiar grace appointed. No man can fulfill the duties of any station without the grace suited to that station. The grace suited to him, as a member of society in general, will not be sufficient for him as a husband, father, or master. Many proper marriages become unhappy in the end, because the parties have not earnestly besought God for the grace necessary for them as husbands and wives. This is the origin of family broils in general; and a proper attention to the apostle’s advice would prevent them all.
Watch in the same— Be always on your guard; and when you have got the requisite grace by praying, take care of it, and bring it into its proper action by watchfulness; by which you will know when, and where, and how to apply it.
With thanksgiving— Being always grateful to God, who has called you into such a state of salvation, and affords you such abundant means and opportunities to glorify him. ~ Adam Clarke

For, since continuing in prayers frequently makes persons listless, therefore he says, “watching,” that is, sober, not wandering. For the devil knows, he knows, how great a good prayer is; therefore he presses heavily. And Paul also knows how careless many are when they pray, wherefore he says, “continue” in prayer, as of somewhat laborious, “watching therein with thanksgiving.” For let this, he says, be your work, to give thanks in your prayers both for the seen and the unseen, and for His benefits to the willing and unwilling, and for the kingdom, and for tribulation, and for refreshment. For thus is the custom of the Saints to pray, and to give thanks for the common benefits of all. ~ Chrysostom

Wow. What powerful teaching! Especially Clarke’s comments on Colossians 4. I need to “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” This is good stuff. Wow.