If the {mother} had known what time the thief was coming, she would have stayed alert and not let her house be broken into. This is why you are to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:43-44Oh, mommas, may we not find ourselves paralyzed by the “would have’s.” I would have stayed alert. I would have kept watch, if I had only known…
Can we claim surprise when the thief breaks in, steals, and destroys? Or will we take seriously the commands in scripture to be on the alert, to be on our guard, to keep watch? See Matthew 13:33, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2, 1 Peter 5:8, just to name a few! Will we be women who are truly in the holy, holy Word? And then encourage others with the truth?
Romans 15:4 motivates us toward this aim: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” Can we become a sisterhood: linking arms, raising our swords, which is the Word, lifting up holy hands to our High King Jesus, persevering to the end?
I can never shake this pull on my heart, the constant Holy Spirit-whisper: keep watch, keep watch, keep watch.
Who will keep watch over…
my family, my husband, my children, my sister, my mother, my friends, my heart
…if not me?
The thief comes to break in and steal. Not on my watch.
The thief comes to kill and destroy. Not. On. My. Watch.
Jesus, You told me to be alert, to keep watch, to be vigilant. My heaviest burdens and my deepest joys are found in this holy conviction-calling to keep watch over those You’ve placed in my care. You remind me again and again, do not grow weary, but run! Empower me to run the race with endurance, keeping my eyes locked on You, keeping watch on You! For the joy, You endured! And so there’s no way I’m giving up!
What if I do feel like giving up?
What happens when I am weary? Or when I don’t have the strength to get back up off the mat? What happens when I feel alone in the fight?
Enter Holy Spirit and holy sisterhood.
First, we are never truly alone, because we have the Holy Spirt. He is here. He searches our hearts and intercedes for us according to God’s will. When we are struggling, weary and worn out, He helps us in our weaknesses. He prays for us when we don’t even have the words or ability to pray for ourselves. His groanings are deeper than words (Romans 8:26-27). If that doesn’t stir up a fire of confidence in us, then we are missing it! “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Then, there’s holy sisterhood.
When we find ourselves struggling to believe, we need a sister to lift us up, to remind us of His truth, His faithfulness, His unfailing love.
“Because two are better than one…for if they fall one will lift up the other” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
“Lift up” comes from the Hebrew word “qum,” which specifically for this verse means “prostrate.”
Don’t miss this word picture:
If we see a sister fall, we’re going prostrate: face to the earth, reaching down, and pulling her back up. We’re getting on our knees and praying her through. We’re getting low, kneeling beside her until she has the strength to carry on. Let’s hoist her over our shoulders and carry her forward until she regains her footing.
I’ve got you, sis! And the One who’s got the whole world in His hands? He’s got you in His hands.
Through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we will stand guard over what has been entrusted to us, (2 Timothy 1:14).
I’m calling you to keep watch with me.
Are you in?
