Not long ago, God showed me that we should stay on the main track and not get sidetracked.

I notice how the enemy sidelines people. How he attacks the body to eliminate it. He seizes the weak parts, and it is precisely these that we need as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12.22 ^"On the contrary, the very parts of the body that seem weakest are the most necessary."

It is not easy to stand in faith when the body does not want to participate. Our physical condition often determines the extent of our spiritual commitment.

This reminds me of the words of Jesus in Matthew 26.41 Where He said: "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

 I think Jesus wished His disciples had stood with Him in the time of His greatest need, but they were overcome by fatiguestate here.

We can certainly understand this. They were usually traveling on foot for days and certainly did not have fixed rest periods as we know them.

But Jesus was disappointed He said to Peter: 'Couldn't you even watch one hour with me? (Verse 40)

An hour? All Jesus wanted was for them to spend an hour with Him at a time in His life where He needed them most.

Was this too much to ask? Was it unfair of Jesus to demand this of them? Wasn't their weariness a reason not to be with him?

As I think about this, I begin to look at my own life. I know that God has called us to do His will on earth, just as Jesus did.

I am a disciple of Jesus. A follower of Him. That means I follow His example to the best of my ability.

I don't have to tell you that this is not always easy. We all get tired sometimes and feel unable to pick up the spiritual.

That's why I found it so strange that Jesus rebuked His disciples for not being able to spend an hour with Him. Wasn't He tired then?

But then I realized that Jesus often set priorities that put the body and its needs second.  As we read in John 4.33 when the disciples asked Him why He did not eat and He said: 'My food is: to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work."

Even when it came to a place to sleep, He made it clear that He had no fixed place, as we read in Luke 9.58.'The foxes have dens and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head to rest.'"

He was indeed right. He had no home to which He could return each night. Spending time with Jesus meant sleeping outside.

These circumstances did not make it easy to be His disciple.

In all of these things, I see a challenge to our bodies. Whether it was sleeping outside or skipping meals, in all these things Jesus indicated that it was more important to complete the Father's work.

To what extent this is active in your life, only you can answer.

Whether you prioritize the needs of your body or those of God's Spirit within you, there are bound to be times when you have to choose one over the other.

When Jesus asked for an hour to watch with Him, He also said ... "Stay awake and pray that you do not fall into tribulation..." (Matthew 26.41)

What trial was this? Jesus knew what awaited them, and that they would have a hard time. This would be a trial of their faith!

I see the crisis in which we now find ourselves in exactly the same way. This pandemic has the potential to test our faith to the limit. This is no time to sleep and rest.

We are asked now more than ever to keep watch with the Lord. To remain alert and aware of what is happening around us.

That we sometimes lose some sleep or skip a meal as a result is quite possible.

We are in a spiritual battle that requires extraordinary measures from us. It is time to press on and not retreat. Time to go full steam ahead on the main track of our calling. No one stays on the couch!

As I heard the Lord say this year: Faith will mark the trail of victory. Even though many will choose a different path, only one will lead to victory.

Psalm 20:7 "Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.”