Facing Temptation

Matthew 26:40-41 “And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, “What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”
How to fight temptation? This is a problem man has had since the beginning of time. In just a few short words Jesus gives us the directive how to win the temptation battle. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation! The world we live in offers a thousand enticements to a thousand different sins. Every night we are bombarded with views of illicit sex and violence, seductive drink and pleasure seeking adventure. Our sinful nature assaults us from within with a complex and varied array of lusts, fears, ambitions and doubts. Satan knows our weakness and attacks us on that front.
Yet Jesus’ simple balanced directive gives us an effective weapon against every one of these temptations to sin: watch and pray. It is our responsibility to keep our spiritual eyes open and on the Savior. This may mean we keep our physical eyes closed or averted from any avenue by which sin might enter into our soul. We are to guard our heart from disloyalty, and our testimony from indiscretion, by actively engaging ourselves in the relentless pursuit of purity and goodness. This is not a job we can accomplish on our own or in our own strength. The age-old cunning of Satan is always on the alert for some small opening he can draw our attention toward sin. Temptation to sin is a strong magnet intended to draw us away from God. We must rely upon the Holy Spirit and the sustaining grace of our Heavenly Father to help us win this sin battle. The words from a country song says it well, “send me ten thousands angles to help me walk out the door.”
Because our flesh is weak, no matter how willing our spirit may be it is imperative that we be in a constant watchfulness and prayer. Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Vs 20 “Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me” The sinful nature of man described by Paul sheds light on why we are subject to Satan’s temptation. That is why Jesus told us there is a direct correlation between our prayerful watchfulness and our ability to withstand the wiles of the devil and avoid temptation. Watch and pray should be the by word of every day.