The capture of Christ (detail) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

Jesus had a simple request for Peter, James, and John in the Garden of Gethsemane, and that was to watch and pray (see Matthew 26:41). But they were sleeping instead of praying.

Perhaps, the disciples’ lack of prayer was the result of self-confidence. Think about it: When do we usually pray? We pray when we are in trouble. If things are going reasonably well, if the bills are paid, if our health is good, if there are no problems on the horizon—at least that we are aware of—we may not pray all that much. But when a crisis hits, when problems come, we start praying. And that is fine. It has been said that if your knees…