My Faith Story - Watch

As I fly through my reading, I am reminded of my next word in My Faith Story: Watch.

After Jesus and the disciples had their last supper, Judas left the group on a mission to betray Jesus to the Pharasees. Jesus took his closest disciples with him: Peter, James and John and asked them to keep watch while he went to pray. During that time Jesus asked God to take the cup from him, meaning that if there was any way to save the human race other than for him to suffer and die, then could God not require him to die. After he returned from praying he discovered that they were all asleep. He rebuked them asking why they couldn't stay awake for just one hour, and went back to pray. Again he asked God to relieve him of the responsibility of dying for us, but resigned himself that he was going to follow God's plan, not his own, and so he returned to his disciples only to discover that they had dozed off again. This time he informed them it was time.

My old church had a ritual of keeping watch overnight on the Thursday before Good Friday. People would sign up for blocks of time to sit in the church and pray. While I was still in high school, I signed up for an hour. When I arrived, there was one other person in the church. I selected a seat away from them and began to pray silently. Soon, I could hear that person leaving. I was all alone. I was not frightened, but felt very responsible for having been trusted to keep watch. I didn't know Jesus as Lord or Savior then. But, I knew I was where I was supposed to be. During this hour, on several occasions, I felt what can only be described as comforting chills. A warm feeling that starts at my head and resonates down my body. It's one of the most cherished feelings in the world. After some research over the years, others have also commented that they believe that the chills mean that my body can sense the presence of the Holy Spirit. I stayed and prayed until the next person arrived. Then once relieved of my post, I returned home. Again, at that time, I was not saved. But, I believed even then that I was special to God.

Another time, a couple of years ago, Mark and I were attending the Weekend to Remember. Our volunteer team would gather in the prayer room during that part of the program where the leaders present the Gospel message. We would pray for various things but mostly that hearts would be open. At one particular point, someone was praying and invited the Holy Spirit to be present. I immediately felt the chills and knew that He was here. Later, Mark commented that even he felt it. Whenever I get that feeling, I smile remembering that night in the church, when the Holy Spirit was there with me as I stayed awake and kept watch for God.