(4) Pray with humility to God when facing weakness and temptation. Jesus told His disciples on the night of His betrayal, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:41; Mark 14:38). Jesus warned His disciples, and yet that night, they all fled when they said that they would not (Mark 14:26-31). Jesus instructed, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:40, 46). Was Jesus wrong about prayer?! These are not useless words! Would prayer have helped deliver these disciples? Yes, it would. If prayer against temptation was not useful and powerful, why would Jesus have commanded His disciples to pray? What if they would have prayed three times that
night?
Take an example in this to pray constantly (1 Thess 5:17). Wake up praying against temptation, pray throughout the day, and pray before bed. Pray David’s repentant words in Psalm 51. Pray daily for the rest of your life and do as part of remaining mindful of Christ. Christ taught His followers to pray, “And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil” (Matt 6:13; cf. Luke 11:4).
but deliver us from evil” (Matt 6:13; cf. Luke 11:4).