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How To Prepare For Temptation
Andrea Lende • October 27, 2021
Luke 4:13
How to Prepare for Temptation
You can listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/How-to-Prepare-for-Temptation-e19c1na
Luke 4:13
“And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time.”
As we know, Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness.
He was tempted by the enemy during this forty-day fast.
Isn’t that the way the enemy works?
He tempts us when we are the weakest.
Jesus fought the enemy with scripture.
He spoke out of the book of Deuteronomy each time.
In doing so, Jesus shows us quoting scripture into the enemy’s attempts is an effective way to fight.
In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said, “Keep awake and watch and pray [constantly], that you may not enter into temptation.”
Prayer is a tool we can use to stay out of temptation.
I was certainly convicted as I read about Jesus’ temptation because I started thinking about how I typically deal with temptation.
Sometimes I get in such a tizzy I forget all about praying and can’t remember scripture to save my life.
I lose my peace which is exactly the enemy’s intent.
He also intends to steal joy, contentment, and focus.
Not only this, but He continues to concoct new ways to bother us.
Our passage says the enemy temporarily left Jesus after this particular cycle of temptations was over.
So, there are cycles of temptations.
And it’s not a one and done effort to tempt us either.
They just keep coming.
So, I am prompted to memorize more scripture and add prayer against temptation to my daily regimen.
Today I choose to lean into God, memorize more of His Word, and pray against temptation while I stay expectant the Lord will strengthen me and keep me safe from the enemy.
May you find the Lord is strengthening you and keeping watch over you so you can withstand the advances from the enemy.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for teaching me more about withstanding the advances of the enemy. Help me lean into You and Your Word, so I can be more prepared to do battle. Help me be diligent in memorizing scripture to use against the enemy when he attacks. Lord, I pray You strengthen me in all ways to stand against his advances. Infuse courage into my spirit so I am able to fight as You equipped King David to fight against his adversaries. Remove any fear and doubt from my mind and replace those things with confidence and power. Help me fully walk into Your will for my life. Do not let discouragement or disappointment have any power over me, Lord. Keep my eyes on You, Almighty God. Help me be one with You and act in Your power. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM the Great I AM, and I equip you in all ways to stand strong against the enemy and walk into My plan.
Response: Thank You, Almighty God and most gracious Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.