Overcoming temptation with prayer

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 11:24-13:33
Mark 14:22-52
Psalm 52:1-9
Proverbs 11:1-3

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Mark 14:37-38 "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.'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

I don't know about you but temptation is alive and well in my life. There are certain things that cry out for my attention and if I indulge (or overindulge) it would be sin. The refrigerator is just one of those enticing voices.

So, how do we develop the spiritual strength to abstain from that which would exploit our areas of weakness? Pray!

Jesus told the disciples to "keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation." Simply put, if we pray, then there will be temptations that will not be victorious over us.

But, we're not talking about 5 minute prayers here. In this same conversation, Jesus asked Peter, "Couldn't you watch with me even one hour?" So, the kind of prayer that overcomes temptation is lengthy, heartfelt prayer.

How does this work? How does prayer help us to overcome temptation? Let me give you two reasons that come to mind:

1. Prayer enables us to trust in the Lord's strength

If we are living life in our own strength, we will fall. But, if we are keenly aware of our personal weakness and, therefore, rely upon the Lord for our strength, we will find that we have what it takes to say "no" to temptation (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

2. Prayer literally removes tempting situations

In the "Lord's Prayer," Jesus told us to pray: "And lead us not into temptation" (Matthew 6:13). When we look further at this prayer, we realize that Jesus is encouraging us to pray in the morning (we ask for bread in the morning - Matthew 6:11). So, in the morning, we are told to ask the Lord to keep us from situations that would tempt us and cause us to fall. In doing so, God may remove many or all of the things from our day that would have caused us to stumble.


So, pray! Spend time in prayer to the Lord today! Create a prayer list and go through it. Or, open up God's Word and just start praying through the verses in front of you. But, whatever you do, pray! It is possibly the most powerful weapon you have to keep you from temptation!