JAMES DAY 6 PRAYER
Pray that when you are tempted that you will take a good hard look at your “own evil desire” to see how it may drag you away and entice you. Ask God to help you control your desires so as to not give birth to sin. (James 1:12)
James 1:13-15 (New International Version)
13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
JAMES DAY 6 CHALLENGE
In this passage I see God dealing with the same issue that was being dealt with in Genesis with Adam and Eve, the blame game. Consistent with the book of James’ tone and the “in-your-face” way this book deals with us, it calls us out on our blame game, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’” In other words, Why me God? Why would you do this to me? Why would you tempt me with this? Why would you allow this to happen knowing my weakness here?” is a subtle way of feeling like it’s God’s fault when we have buckled under pressure to do things against His Word.
James continues….”For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone:” James gives us straight up Truth that our thinking is out of sync. He doesn’t beat around the bush or say that God probably wouldn’t do that to us, the author of James flat out says God does NOT tempt anyone, period.
As we continue we find out how we are tempted. “But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” The word for desire used in the New American Standard version is lust. The definition of lust is desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden. Wow, we are tempted when we cave in to our lust and from that we are then dragged away and enticed.
So, what does that mean for us? It means that we must be diligent to be on guard against the things we lust after, that we need to catch ourselves when we find our minds desiring things that are not of God. Lust can run into an entire spectrum of things. It can be more than sexual lust. We can lust after body image, success, power, approval, affirmation, clothes, cars, jewelry, attention, and more. The list can go on and on. We must watch what the desires of our heart are. We must diligently protect our minds and our hearts to be filled with things that come from God. The minute you find yourself lusting, pray! Ask God to take away those desires and equip yourself with a verse, a worship song, something that will put your mind on His Truth.
This is serious stuff! “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” It’s life or death. Let’s treat it as such.
SPECIAL PRAYER FOR WIVES TO PRAY FOR THEIR HUSBANDS:
JAMES DAY 6 PRAYER
Pray that when your husband is tempted that he will be able to turn away from that temptation so that he will not be dragged away and enticed. Pray that he will be surround with Godly men who are passionate about not conceiving any evil desire and that his only desire will be to deepen his relationship with the Lord. (James 1:13-15)
JAMES DAY 6 CHALLENGE
Our husbands have such a battle in this world. Daily they are being tempted and enticed by lust. They are being tempted sexually, visually, for the need of material goods, by food, success, awards, self-image, with money and more.
So, how about when he gets home? How about in his marriage? How about in his relationship with his wife or family? Are more temptations being put in front of his face? When our husband makes healthy stewardship choices with how he spends, do we then tempt him by asking for gifts, things for the house or going out to eat when we can’t afford it?
Click here to see the rest of today’s challenge.
