|
Oct.21.04: Light for the Day - "Prayer Overcomes Temptation"
---------------------
An imperfect conscience needs a perfect guide.
---------------------
-- Matthew 26:41 (Mark 14:38)
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
-- 1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
--------------------
When you flee temptations don't leave a forwarding address.
--------------------
Sally was trying was desperately to save all the pennies she could for the doll carriage she wanted to buy. She was turning in aluminum cans, offering to do extra chores ... anything to make a few more cents a week.
One night as she was saying her bedtime prayers, her mother overheard Sally say in great earnest, "O Lord, please help me to save my money for the doll carriage in Mr. Brown's store window. It's so beautiful and I want it so much. It's just right for my doll. And I'd be sure to let my friends play with it too."
Pleased at her daughter's prayer, Sally's mother was startled to hear the final line of the prayer. "And please God, don't let the ice cream man come down our street this week!"
Just as we are each unique in our talents, abilities, background, and experiences, we are also unique in what tempts us. What is tempting to one person may not be at all tempting to another.
Although the enemy of our souls knows our weak points, we know our strength -- Jesus Christ. As we stick close to Him, when temptation comes, we can draw on His strength to turn from it.
Always say yes to Jesus, and saying no to temptation will become easy!
-- G'LDB
----------------------
-- James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
-- 2 Timothy 2:22
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
-- Psalm 119:9-11
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word.
10 I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands.
11 I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
-- Ecclesiastes 11:9
Young man, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.
-- Genesis 4:6,7
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
-- Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13 Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.
14 Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared.
16 In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.
17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.
--1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
-- Matthew 6:13
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
"
-- Luke 11:4
"Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation."
-- Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
-- Mark 1:13
And He was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended
Him.
-- Luke 4:2
Where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them
He was hungry.
-- Hebrews 2:18
Because He himself suffered when He was tempted,
He is able to help those who are being tempted.
-- Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin.
-- Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him
gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
-- James 1:13
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone;
14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
-- Acts 24:16
So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
|