In The Word
Read: Luke 22:31-46
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
35 And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.” 36 And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment.” 38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”
The Garden of Gethsemane
39 And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. 40 When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Following the Last Supper, Jesus retreated to a solitary place to pray to God, and He asked the disciples to pray with Him. Jesus prayed for God to reveal another way to accomplish His will, but Jesus submitted wholeheartedly to the Father by saying, “Not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
When Jesus asked the disciples to pray with Him, He gave the key to overcoming temptation: “Pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:40). There are three things to know about temptation. First, temptation to sin will come against you because the enemy wants you defeated and destroyed. Second, temptation alone is not sin; temptation only becomes sin when you give in to it (James 1:14-15). Third, you are not strong enough to defeat temptation, only God is. Victory over temptation comes through humbling yourself by praying to God for His strength to fill you through His Spirit, that way He gets the glory. Temptation is only defeated by God’s “power that works within us” by believing “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (Ephesians 3:20, 1 John 4:4). Temptation and the enemy are strong, but they cannot compare to the power of our mighty God!
Are you being tempted right now to go against God’s will and commands? Don’t give in! Rather, pray to God and ask Him to give you strength to stand firm and to show you the path away from sin (1 Corinthians 10:13).