Living Free, Loving Others
Fast
Fast from self-focused spending today, choosing instead to bless someone else with generosity, time, or intentional care.
Matthew 6:13
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
If we were to gather our friends and family and ask them to share their biggest temptation, we’d hear no shortage of answers. Some might talk about the pull to overspend or indulge in things that bring short-term comfort. Others might share about neglecting healthy habits or drifting toward convenience over discipline. And then there are the temptations that carry a little more weight: the urge to lie, to steal, to cheat, or to compromise our integrity in subtle ways. The list could go on and on, because temptation is all around us. Sin is all around us.If ever there was a prayer that needed to flow from the lips of every believer it is “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
First thing we should know is that the Lord is the One that keeps us from temptation. In a world where there are pitfalls and traps at every turn, we need Him to protect us. We need His guiding hand in our lives. Practically, we should live our lives very cautiously and not carelessly. We should monitor the things we do, the places we go, the people we hang with, and the things we look at and listen to. We should constantly ask the Lord for wisdom and discernment as we live our lives before an unbelieving world.
Second thing we should know is that He’s the One who frees and delivers us. John 8:31-32 says, “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” He has the ability to rescue us. As I reflect over my life I am amazed at what the Lord has done, and it simply brings gratitude to my heart. I am thankful for His freeing power.
Serving Him,
Pastor Leon Brooks III
Campus Pastor
Houston’s First Baptist Church - Downtown
Prayer Guide
- Pray for God’s protection over your life, family, church, and community, asking Him to guard you from the temptations that draw your heart away from Him.
- Ask the Lord to break strongholds and open your eyes to the needs around you — both spiritually and tangibly — so that serving others becomes a practical way of resisting temptation.
- Pray that your obedience would shine His light (Matthew 5:16) and that God would push back the Kingdom of Darkness through your actions today, drawing others toward Him as you choose His Kingdom over self-focused living.
Action Step
Find one thing, big or small, to do for someone else today. Use your money to bless someone with coffee, a meal, or a gift, or use your time to spend with someone or help them in a meaningful way.
Prayer Practice
Set an alarm for 10 min and pray the whole time using the P.R.A.Y. model.
