January 31, 2022
Pray Against Temptation
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.
Luke 22:39-36 (ESV) “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Two of the most famous times of prayer in the Bible have one repeated theme. Both when Jesus taught the disciples how to pray and when he entered into the garden just before his betrayal, he instructed them to pray that they would not enter into temptation. In fact, it is so important that Jesus gives the command as he went into the garden and again when he had finished praying in the garden. If this is one of the last commands that Jesus gives to his disciples before the crucifixion and one of key pieces to the Lord’s prayer, we should take note.
We know that God does not tempt people to do evil (James 1:13), so what does it mean to pray “lead us not into temptation”? There are two ways to pray against temptation. This first is to pray that we wouldn’t enter temptation, that God would protect us from being tempted. The second is that we should pray that we would be sustained through temptation. As temptation comes into our lives, we would live by the power of the Spirit and would hold tightly to our true hope. In the coming days, we will pray specifically for God’s guidance from and through temptation, particularly in the realm of outreach and evangelism.
Consider:
Prayer Points:
Ask that God would deliver you from temptation as you witness.
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.
Luke 22:39-36 (ESV) “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Two of the most famous times of prayer in the Bible have one repeated theme. Both when Jesus taught the disciples how to pray and when he entered into the garden just before his betrayal, he instructed them to pray that they would not enter into temptation. In fact, it is so important that Jesus gives the command as he went into the garden and again when he had finished praying in the garden. If this is one of the last commands that Jesus gives to his disciples before the crucifixion and one of key pieces to the Lord’s prayer, we should take note.
We know that God does not tempt people to do evil (James 1:13), so what does it mean to pray “lead us not into temptation”? There are two ways to pray against temptation. This first is to pray that we wouldn’t enter temptation, that God would protect us from being tempted. The second is that we should pray that we would be sustained through temptation. As temptation comes into our lives, we would live by the power of the Spirit and would hold tightly to our true hope. In the coming days, we will pray specifically for God’s guidance from and through temptation, particularly in the realm of outreach and evangelism.
Consider:
- Do you pray against temptation?
- What temptations do you face in evangelizing your lost coworkers and friends?
- What are the ways in which lost people are tempted and drawn away from the Gospel?
Prayer Points:
Ask that God would deliver you from temptation as you witness.
Posted in 2022 Prayer and Fasting