The spirit is willing--
Sometimes people have a hard time beginning a new prayer regiment, or habit. When Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane he took a few of his faithful disciples with Him to pray. They were weak in body and worn out from the day's adventures and they kept falling asleep while praying.
How many times have we done the same? We start out praying for important things but we are so weary that we cannot stay awake and pray.
Now in this case Jesus was speaking of Himself as he said the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. He was about to die on the cross for us and his fleshly humaness was not looking to the big picture so he prayed for another way to get the job done. The thing is His Spirit was willing and the Father strengthened him in the flesh as well we know because He did it!
Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.”Matthew 26:40-42
I believe this was in the flesh when he chastened Simon Peter asking if he could not even watch for an hour. He was disappointed in them. When we pray we need to not give in to temptation to make it a quick, "Fix it" prayer but to really pray in the power and might that the Holy Spirit within us will empower us to do. Our Lord prayed for a thing, for many things, and so we have this as an example. He encouraged them to watch and pray and so should we!
Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. Mark 14:37-39
He also taught us to repeat our prayers, at least three times by example. Then He knew the thing was going to be the thing, and the prayer had been answered with this is the way.
If you are just starting out praying this year go check out my book "Good Morning Lord" and it will get you in the habit with some tiny short prayers that grow with you to a long fruitful time with the Lord.
That is how we learn to get our feet wet so to speak. We start small not despising the days of small beginnings and grow with it!
God is good, He will train us up to become the prayer warriors fighting against the enemy when needed but we need to learn how, when and why to pray. Let's keep learning in His Word!