“How to overcome temptation”
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
Our Lord gave us an effective way to overcome temptation. Our verse for this week encourages us to watch and pray so that we will not fall into temptation. All of us are tempted in this life. Our flesh is weak and pulls us away from what is most important—a life of ongoing prayer. The key is to cultivate an ongoing relationship with God through watchful praying.
For context, Christ was close to facing the greatest trial ever known in history—His total suffering for the sins of the world. The disciples who were with Christ fell asleep as He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Christ took the opportunity to teach the disciples to be vigilant and sober. Our Lord who was about to go through the most excruciating experience ever known in history, took the time to teach His disciples to always watch and pray.
Let’s learn from Christ who took the time to teach us a spiritual principle to overcome temptation. If we are to walk in victory, we must follow our Lord’s example. We must learn the discipline of relational prayer that will keep us awake from the lures of the many temptations we face everyday.
Other verses for meditation.
-1 Corinthians 16:13
-Colossians 4:2
-Thessalonians 5:6
-1 Peter 5:8