A Strong Weapon

A Strong Weapon

Since [Jesus] himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested. Hebrews 2:18

Linda has another weapon in her fight against temptation: She understands being tempted is not the issue; how she chooses to respond to the temptation is. After all, she reminds herself, even the Lord himself was tempted. And since he understands her struggles, Linda has decided the best thing she can do is talk to him about them. Daily she asks for continued strength, godliness, and faith that the Lord will bring the right spouse into her life at the right time. In the meantime, she has learned five important things about prayer:

• Prayer is our recognition of our dependence on God.
• Prayer restores our relationship to God.
• Prayer releases God’s power.
• Prayer gives us God’s peace.
• Prayer allows God either to change the situation or to change us.

Linda has chosen wisely. By inviting the Lord into every struggle, even the sexual ones, she has a better chance to make good choices. And that’s a wise choice for all of us. From struggle and conflict we can gain a spiritual discipline that will greatly strengthen our faith and establish our spiritual character.

—SANDRA

Lord, I’m prone to try to fight my battles against temptation alone and to forget the greatest weapon I possess is prayer. Help me to remember to ask for your help when I’m tempted rather than ask you to bail me out of trouble later.

Temptation is necessary to settle and confirm us in the spiritual life.

—MRS. CHARLES E. COWMAN (1870–1960), MISSIONARY TO CHINA AND JAPAN AND AUTHOR