Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader.
Books / Pr - Prayer (2002) / Chapter 7—Prayer And Obedience
Pray for Grace to Resist Temptation—In the daily life you will meet with sudden surprises, disappointments, and temptations. What saith the word? “Resist the devil,” by firm reliance upon God, “and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.”“Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.” Look unto Jesus at all times and in all places, offering a silent prayer from a sincere heart that you may know how to do His will. Then when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard for you against the enemy. When you are almost ready to yield, to lose patience and self-control, to be hard and denunciatory, to find fault and accuse—this is the time for you to send to heaven the prayer, “Help me, O God, to resist temptation, to put all bitterness and wrath and evil-speaking out of my heart. Give me Thy meekness, Thy lowliness, Thy longsuffering, and Thy love. Leave me not to dishonor my Redeemer, to misinterpret the words and motives of my wife, my children, and my brethren and sisters in the faith. Help me that I may be kind, pitiful, tenderhearted, forgiving. Help me to be a real house-band in my home and to represent the character of Christ to others.”(The Adventist Home, 214, 215.) {Pr 68.4}
We know the dangers and temptations that beset the youth at the present time are not few or small.... We live in an age when to resist evil calls for constant watchfulness and prayer. God’s precious Word is the standard for youth who would be loyal to the King of heaven. Let them study the Scriptures. Let them commit text after text to memory, and acquire a knowledge of what the Lord has said.... And in trial let the youth spread out the Word of God before them, and with humble hearts, and in faith, seek the Lord for wisdom to find out His way, and for strength to walk in it.... {Pr 69.1}
Let our young men institute a warfare against every habit that has the least danger of leading the soul from duty and devotion. Let them have stated seasons for prayer, never neglecting them if it can possibly be avoided. If they go out to battle with their vicious habits indulged as before they professed fellowship with Christ, they will soon fall an easy prey to Satan’s devices. But armed with the Word of God, having it treasured in heart and mind, they will come forth unharmed by all the assaults of the foes of God or man.—(My Life Today, 315.) {Pr 69.2}
We have an amazing wonderful friend in Christ Jesus. We can always depend on Christ to be there for us to help in time of need. The Word of God holds the key and gives us the Power to fight off Satan and his devices. However, we have to be prepared to face the trials and temptations by studying the Bible and communing with God so that when we draw nigh to Him, He will draw nigh to us. No matter the situation, place, or time, we are to look to Jesus to know how to do His will. When Satan comes at us roaring as a lion, Jesus will give us the strength to fight off the enemy. Remember; keep your eyes on Jesus.
Our kind and gracious Father,
We come into Your presence in thanksgiving and prayer. It is with a sincere heart that we thank You for watching over us, protecting us, and keeping us safe. We pray that You keep a hedge round about us of Your Holy Angels continually to protect us from Satan and his demons and through all the people he works. Satan continually harasses us, as he wants to draw us into his snare, have us, and sift us as wheat. We cannot fight him off by our own strength, but only by the strength, You give us. Thank You for Your Word to live by that gives us the Power to do all things through You, which strengthens us. Your Word says to submit ourselves to You, resist the devil, and he will flee from us. You are our shield and buckler. Help us to resist temptation, and to put away any bitterness or anger out of our hearts. Take the stony heart out of our flesh and give us a new heart of flesh. Create in us a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within us. Let this mind be in us, which is also in Christ Jesus. We pray to honor Your name and receive Your character of humbleness, lowliness, meekness, long-suffering and love. Help us that we may be kind, pitiful, tenderhearted, and forgiving as You are. Help us to lift others to Your standard as You have lifted up a standard for us against the enemy. Help us especially in helping the youth in the warfare against Satan. To teach them to always watch and pray and keep their eyes on You. Yea though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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