In some previous posts I have mentioned that I am taking a class on worship and our professor, Dr. Derek Thomas, has encouraged us to write out prayers on various subjects so that we can think about how we would lead a congregation in prayer before a sermon. This is not so that we would memorize prayers but so that we would engage in the practice of "studied prayers" and be prepared to pray well before a congregation.
Below is one I wrote about temptation. I hope you find it helpful, perhaps something you can pray through, and perhaps a blessing to your soul. By the way, the image above is of the cover of volume six of John Owen's works. This is one of the best works on the subject and it is available for free online. It is long but worth it.
Heavenly Father, in this life we are often faced with temptation. Some of it comes from the world, some of it comes from the devil, and some of it is born out of our own sinfulness. Father, You know our weakness. You know how we are prone to wander and leave You—the God we love. Father, we praise You because You have promised us that if we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We praise You because You sent Jesus to secure forgiveness of sins for us, so that those of us who are in Christ might never fear condemnation because of them. Thank You have You have given us Your Word, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper to remind of Your salvation and seal it to us. Your steadfast love and forgiveness are always worthy of our praise, and Father we want to show our thankfulness in our lives. Because Christ has redeemed us and renews us by the Spirit after His own image, we want to show our thankfulness by our whole conduct for this great blessing of redemption. We want to testify to the world by our actions that You are our God, so that You might be praised and glorified. We want to be further conformed to the likeness of Jesus and resist temptation, for Your glory and our good.
Jesus taught us to praying, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Because of this, Father, we pray, that in Your sovereignty You would so overrule the world and all temptations in it, subdue our sinful flesh, and restrain the devil that we may be kept by Your providence from being tempted to sin. We pray that in Your sovereignty You would order all things, give us access to and the blessings of all Your means of grace, and make us watchful, intentional children by them that we may be kept by Your providence from being tempted to sin. Father, You also promise that even when we are tempted, no temptation has overtaken us that is not common to man. You promised us that You are faithful, and You will not let us be tempted beyond our ability, but with the temptation You will also provide the way of escape, that we may be able to endure it. We pray that by Your Spirit we may be powerfully supported and enabled to stand firm when we are tempted. We pray that You would use the temptation, our repentance, and even whatever discipline You might give us because of Your love to perfect our sanctification, for Your glory and our good.
Father, we thank You that when You sent Jesus to accomplish redemption in history, You ordered His mission in order that He might understand our frailty and what it is like to be tempted, so that He can help us in our time of need. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. And, because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help us when we are being tempted. The devil assaulted Jesus with temptations in the wilderness and throughout the rest of His life. In fact, because He was not overcome by the temptations, He has experienced levels of temptation and attacks of which we could never dream. Father, help us to remember this great truth and be comforted it by it in our time of need. Help us to turn to our Savior, who knows what we are going through, for help when we feel like we cannot resist the temptations that have come upon us. Help us to look to our union with Him for comfort and strength. And, when we do not remember, remind us by Your Spirit, who lives in us and strengthens us, that we have this great High Priest who knows what we are going through, for Your glory and for our good.
Finally, Father, keep us close to You. Help us to meditate on Your Word and the grace You show us therein, so that it might be a weapon for us in our time of temptation. Thousands of years ago the psalmist said, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” In His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus showed us how to use Your Word to combat the lies of the devil. Father, help us to hide Your Word in our hearts. Help us to know it so well that we can combat temptation with it, so that we might not sin against You, for Your glory and our good.
Father, we pray all these things in the name of Jesus who has secured our forgiveness, secured our sanctification, freed us from the power of sin, and is able to help us when we are tempted. Amen.
By His Grace,
Taylor
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