Jesus Christ during his suffering in Gethsemane asked his apostles to “Watch and Pray…” with him, “that ye enter not into temptation” (KJV Matt. 26:41).
During the ratification process for the Constitution an author to the Daily Advertiser in September 24, 1787 offered the following:
Let difficulties, if any unhappily arise, be no longer laid to our charge –and let us all, who are friends to order and good government, in the language of the scriptural injunction, “watch and pray.” — Watch, and, with open front, manfully oppose every ambitious demagogue, however high in office, who may attempt to form combinations, with a wicked intent to destroy the labors of those distinguished worthies; and pray to the Governor of the world to avert, and finally disappoint there nefarious purposes. — If the change, which genius and patriotism has presented to us, as the most advisable to be received, should be rejected, and if (which God avert) such evil minded men should prevail, what is the alternative? Gorgon-headed anarchy, or a miserable aristocratic domination; all the wretchedness and wickedness of an aristrocracy, without a single particle of its dignity.
What are some things we need to watch for?
Representatives who don’t.
Representatives who line their pockets and base decisions on the interests of their party or a lobbyist rather than the concerns of their constituents.
Representatives who seek to destroy the work of those who chose to work and enrich themselves for those who do not wish to avail themselves of opportunities.
Representatives who manipulate an overly-complex tax code to help their friends gain positions of power.
Representatives who actively strive to destroy the fabric of society, even the family unit.
Representatives who undermine our security by weakening and demoralizing those who have chosen to protect us and the Constitution.
The list could go on and on.
The second part of that directive is to pray. I do not care if you pray to God, Allah, or any of the other host of deities worshiped by people in this country. I do not even care if you are an atheist. We need to be praying.
Praying for what?
Pray that our elected leaders will have the wisdom and guidance that they need to govern properly this country.
Pray that our representatives will remember those whom they have gotten their positions from.
Pray that the family can survive.
Pray that the efforts of those who have shed blood for the freedoms which we take for granted will not be in vain.
Pray that the nefarious efforts of wicked men will be thwarted.
Pray that true leaders and true patriots will arise from the masses to help lead us.
Pray for the men and women who everyday place themselves in harms way to protect our Constitution.
I am thankful for this country. I am thankful for the freedoms which we have. I am ashamed that for so long I have taken for granted those freedoms. I am thankful that I had a chance to serve my country.
The directive to “watch and pray” is still applicable as it was 200 years ago and 2000 years ago.
Watching means more than simply looking out for irregularities. It also means that we take action. A neighborhood watch program is only effective if the people watching also call authorities to action should the need arise. This places a responsibility on us.
We need to know what our rights our. We need to know what our Constitution says. We need to be able to think critically. We also need to be turn that knowledge into a watch. Then by watching we will know if something is amiss, and with our vote take action.
We also need to rely on whichever Creator we worship and through prayer ask for his divine help. This means not only relying on our own merits, but realizing that without divine help we are nothing. This means not relying on the arm of flesh, but on the divine arm of God to help and direct the leaders of our country.
For too long, we as Americans have been asleep on the tower. Enemies have and our infiltrating the ranks of our representatives. We need to find them and root them out.
WAKE UP! Stand tall, watch and pray.
