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Pray Against Temptation
Andrea Lende • July 10, 2020
Matthew 2:1
Pray Against Temptation
You can also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Pray-Against-Temptation-egit00
Daily Word:
Matthew 2:1
“Then Jesus was led (guided) by the [Holy Spirit] into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil.”
I have read this passage so many times over the years.
Something new showed up for me as I read this verse today.
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted.
The moment that Jesus was baptized by John, Jesus was led into the wilderness.
The Holy Spirit had literally just descended upon Him.
God had just said, “This is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I delight!”, and Jesus was led into the wilderness.
A most wonderful experience had just occurred when He was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Lately I have been reading about trials coming our way.
We will never be without them.
However, being led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil were words that surprised me today.
I began thinking about the times when we feel like we are on the top of the world.
Everything seems to be going our way.
We feel strong physically, mentally, and spiritually.
And then, BAM, we are hit with something extremely difficult.
We fall on our faces and cry out to God.
We pray that God will keep us from temptation which is Wisdom because Jesus told the disciples to pray against temptation.
He also gave them the Lord’s prayer when He was here on earth which includes the same words – “Lead us not into temptation”.
As I read today’s passage that said Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted, I was struck with how similar things had happened in my life.
So, lest I complain about the tests and temptations that come my way, I pray that the Lord will strengthen me during these times.
I pray that the Lord will equip me for my walk in the wilderness all the while being tempted by the devil.
I pray that the Lord deliver me from temptations.
And then I must trust that the Lord will help me resist the devil until he flees.
Today I choose to be in prayer that the Lord will strengthen me as I walk through the wilderness and am tempted by the enemy.
May you find that God is by your side as you walk through the wilderness and are tempted by the enemy.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for showing me more of Your ways. Thank You for imparting Wisdom into my soul. Thank You for strengthening me to withstand the enemy. Please equip me in every way to resist temptation, Father. Help me look to You in all things and not ask the world its advice. I pray that You will keep a watchful eye over me as the enemy tries to tempt me with its glitz and glamour. Help me see the true beauty in You and serving You, Lord. Keep me from the cares of this world. May I rest under the shadow of Your wings. May I sit at Your feet and find rest and peace. Thank You for the perfect gift of peace, Lord. Thank You for sending Your Son so that I have access to You and Your peace. Forgive me for my shortcomings and help me be better each day as I seek You and find You. May I sit at Your table, Lord, and take sustenance. Thank You for always being present in such a beautiful way as I seek You. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM with You, My child, and will keep you from all harm as you seek Me.
Response: Thank You for keeping me Yours, Lord.
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.