Prayer as protection

Prayer as Protection

“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is a spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.”
Charles Spurgeon

Luke 11:1

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Prayer as communion

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,

Prayer as Petition
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.

Prayer as Confession
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Prayer as Protection
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.

“The essence of temptation is the invitation to live independently of God.”
- Neil Anderson

13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one:

• Do not let me succumb to the test

• And don’t let us yield to temptation (NLT)

• but deliver us from the evil one.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation  has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Hebrews 10:24-25

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

 “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”

~ Martin Luther

2 Corinthians 2:10

10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

John 16:33

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I Corinthians 15:54-56

 “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:11-12

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…

Aware:

We should be aware of testing, temptations, and the enemy’s attacks but not overly preoccupied with them.

Prayer:

Let us continuously give ourselves to prayer—acknowledging our temptations and trials, re-centering our lives in Christ, and receiving the Spirit’s power to endure and overcome.

Share:

Share with someone you can trust about the temptations and testing you are facing so that they can prayerfully stand together with you. 

Hebrews 4:15-16

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.