Daily Devotions
Can You Battle Temptation Without Prayer?
Reading for January 21st: Exodus 17-20
Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Exodus 17:11
Can you battle temptation without prayer?
That seems like a silly question to ask. Of course, you can't beat temptation on your own. But as silly as it might sound, I can almost guarantee that there has been a time in your life when you did just that. And I wouldn't be surprised if you're doing it right now.
Why do we do this? We fail again and again to overcome on our own. We try different strategies to control ourselves. We use all of our willpower to be good.
But it doesn't work.
It never does.
One of the reasons we do this is because there is a little bit of Pharisee in all of us. The Pharisee can only pray when he has been good (or feels good), never when he's bad. He depends on his righteousness. He can only pray when he feels worthy to approach God in prayer ("God I thank you I'm not like other men..." Lk 18:11). He could never pray when he feels unworthy. He can never beat his breast and say, "God be merciful to me, a sinner." (Lk 18:13)
That's why the Pharisee can never beat temptation. He can't go down to his house justified (Lk 18:14) because he's depending on himself, not God's grace.
So why don't we just admit it... we're sinners. We have a problem and there's no sense trying to hide it from God. We can't kill it without God's grace. Let's lower our pride while we raise our hands.
Father, I lift my heart to you as I beat my breast... Be merciful to me, a sinner!
