As we all know, sin is being in the wrong standing before God. However, when we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God has forgiven us of our sins and saved us from the power of sin. Sin is no longer a master over us but the righteousness of God. We can now say no to sin and choose to do what is pleasing to God. However, we have yet to arrive in a state of perfection. We are still being tempted because of our sinful nature, and this is the reason we need to choose in every situation, in whatever we are thinking or doing that we need to choose to follow God. If not, we are going to sin against God. Colossians 3:5-11 says, "So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."
Every time we wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night, we need to decide to live according to God's ways. But we need to realize that we cannot overcome temptations with our strength, power, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Our own self cannot overcome temptations, and this is the reason Jesus told his disciples these words, "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak (Matthew 26:41)." Keeping watch means to be alert at all times. The moment we sense the temptations, we immediately pray to our Lord Jesus to give us the strength to overcome them. We need the Spirit of God in us to help and rescue us from the temptations. The problem that we are having is that we do not pray enough to overcome our temptations. If we need to overcome sin in our lives, we need to pray, and prayer is not only once a day but in every moment; we need to pray in our hearts and minds.
Our prayer activates our faith in God, and our faith in God is our shield against temptations. Ephesians 6:16 says, "In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil." Our prayer is the weapon that God has provided for us to overcome temptations and sin in our lives.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully, meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What is the weapon that God has provided me to overcome temptations in my life? How many times do I need to pray a day to overcome temptations and sins in my life? Why do I still struggle with sin after I was saved through faith in my Lord Jesus?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, please help me to pray in my heart and mind every time I am tempted. Thank you for helping me to understand that I cannot overcome temptations and sin with my own strength, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. The key to overcoming sin in my life is to rely completely on your power. Please help me to overcome any temptation that I face today and immediately move my heart to pray when I sense temptation around me. In your name, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.