Being alert and watchful in prayer helps us overcome temptation.




Temptation and trials are all around us aren't they! 

Matthew 26:36 - 46, 69-75

Jesus, knew that Peter would be tempted to deny Him when He(Jesus) was brought before the judicial system of the day to accuse Him unjustly with the aim of ultimately crucifying Him.  Yet Jesus gave Peter the solution, in order to help him withstand the pressure and not deny Him. What was that? Prayer! 

Jesus told Peter in Matt 26:40-41 that if he would only stay awake and pray, he would also have the ability to overcome the temptation that was about to hit him, just as Jesus overcame the temptation to not go through with the cross by winning the battle ahead of time in prayer. 

Yet Peter fell asleep! And we know that he denied Jesus three times just as Jesus said. 

Peter's spirit was willing, he loved Jesus, yet the fear caused him to deny Jesus when pressure was on. If he had only obeyed Jesus and prayed as He had asked him to in verse 36, he would have had the strength to overcome and not deny His Lord. 

Victory over temptation is won ahead of time, in prayer!

What temptations and pressures do you face today? What is it that you need strength to overcome. The answer is the same to us today as it was to Peter "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak".

Let's be alert and watchful in prayer in our lives and let's continue to walk in victory, the victory we know is ours in Christ but has to be lived out by us. 

(Photo credit -Ben White, Unsplash)

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