Temptation

“Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” Luke 22:46, NKJV.

Any man can spend countless hours in the gym trying to look like Mr. Universe. However, God didn’t just save us so that we could look strong, He saved us so that we could be strong in Him. While exercise is beneficial, real strength is when we can resist the temptation to sin.

We all know how to live according to our fleshly desires, but now that we belong to Jesus, we have to learn how to live in a way that pleases Him. To be tempted doesn’t make us any less of a believer. It’s when we surrender to that temptation that it becomes a sin.

In the days before Jesus’ crucifixion, He asked His disciples to stay awake and pray with Him. He knew that great temptation of the enemy was lurking right around the corner and it would be advantageous that they pray. We are in that hour today, and a strong and consistent prayer life will help us not fall into sin. That’s why God nudges you early in the morning, while the house is quiet, so that you can pray. That’s why He nudges you when you’re on your lunch break at work so that you can get alone with Him and pray. He sees what you do not see. He knows what is lurking around the corner.

My brother, you don’t have to give in to any solicitation of the enemy. You can rebuke him in the name of Jesus. Any time you resist temptation, you grow stronger spiritually. The devil knows this so he works overtime to try to distract God’s people from praying consistently so that he can cause us to fall. His ultimate goal is to destroy our effectiveness as believers and make a complete mockery of our God. But God says He will not be mocked, and whatsoever we sow, we will reap. While everyone around you is sowing to their flesh and reaping corruption, God wants you to sow to your spirit by spending time in prayer, and He promises you will reap life! This is how we bring glory to His name!

Prayer: LORD, thank you for challenging me by your Spirit to come up in my prayer life. Forgive me of all my wrong and wash me clean. Change my heart. Renew my mind. Help me to hate sin. I want to bring glory to you. So I sacrifice my time, LORD, and I ask you to establish in me a stronger and consistent prayer life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Read Romans 8)