A Prayer about the Temptations Jesus Endured

by | Oct 18, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Temptations Jesus Endured

How do you escape temptation?

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Sovereign Lord,

How we thank you for Jesus’ temptations, 

first, because as we prayed yesterday, 

it is through them that we are able 

to overcome our temptations. 

They do not merely offer a good example; 

they show us the way out. 

Through Christ, 

the second Adam, 

who, like the first Adam,

endured temptations,

and yet resisted. 

Jesus was tempted 

to provide sustenance through miraculous means (see Matt. 4:3);

while we cannot do this trick, 

we are often tempted to believe 

that you are not good 

when you do not provide 

what we think we need 

when we think we need it. 

Our Savior reminded us of our central hope

when he told Satan, 

“Man does not live by bread alone 

but by every word that comes 

from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). 

We must trust in your goodness 

even when we don’t see your provision.

Jesus was tempted to gain knowledge 

that you loved him 

by demanding you protect him (Matt. 4:5-7). 

He resisted that temptation, 

choosing to trust 

that you protect him 

even in suffering. 

We must trust in your protection 

even when we live 

in the midst of uncertainty and confusion.

Jesus was tempted to gain glory 

by worshiping Satan, 

the father of lies (Matt. 4:8-9).

He refused, 

naming his central focus 

as the glory of God: 

“You shall worship the Lord your God 

and him only shall you serve” (Matt. 4:10). 

We must refuse to seek glory 

that belongs to you alone.

Thank you, good Father, 

for giving us a sympathetic high priest 

who has endured temptation. 

May we run to his sheltering mercy and grace 

to find help in our time of need (Heb. 4:16). 

Amen. 

Read Hebrews 4:14-16; Matthew 4:1-11

A Prayer about Why Jesus Was Tempted

by | Oct 17, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Why Jesus Was Tempted

Have you ever wondered why you struggle with temptation?

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1

Heavenly Father, 

We are puzzled—why would the Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness 

so that he might be tempted by the devil? 

Didn’t our Savior himself teach us to pray, 

“Lead us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13)?

As we ask, “Why was Jesus tempted,” 

we see at least four reasons:

First, because he was praying, 

and he was full of the Holy Spirit: 

Luke tells us that right before his temptation, 

Jesus had been baptized 

and was praying (Luke 3:21). 

At that time, the heavens were opened, 

and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, 

and you proclaimed, 

“You are my beloved Son; 

with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). 

We too, when we pray, 

can expect to be tempted, 

for as Charles Spurgeon says, 

“Why, your prayers…. 

have been instrumental in opening blind eyes, 

quickening dead hearts, 

unlocking the doors of spiritual prison houses, 

and shaking the gates of hell, 

and do you not think that Satan will attack you now?*

Jesus was also tempted 

because he was beginning his public ministry, 

and the devil would do anything to stop him. 

When we are beginning a new spiritual discipline 

or a new way of sharing the gospel, 

we will likely be tempted, 

for the devil wants to destroy hope.

Jesus was also tempted 

because he was your “Beloved Son.” 

Adopted by you through our union with Christ, 

we can expect temptation to come. 

But when it does, 

we know that we are your beloved children (Ephesians 1:4-5).

Finally, Jesus was tempted 

so that he could be 

“tempted in every way, 

just as we are—

yet was without sin” (Heb. 4:15). 

When we are tempted, 

it is Jesus’ temptation 

that gives us hope for the way out—

while we cannot resist temptation 

in our own strength; 

we can through the strength of the One 

who was tempted in every way.

Father, thank you for allowing Jesus 

to be tempted. 

Today, we bring you all of our temptation and sin, 

asking you to protect us from the evil one 

and to forgive us our sin.

In the name of our Savior who resisted temptation. Amen. 

 *Quote from Charles Spurgeon’s sermon, “Tempted by the Devil”.

Read Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13.

A Prayer about Work, Wealth, Women, and Wisdom

by | Oct 16, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Work, Wealth, Women, and Wisdom

Is Solomon’s story hard for you to read?

For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 1 Kings 11:4

Author God,

May we learn from Solomon:

You,the all-powerful King of the Universe, 

offered Solomon anything he asked for: 

“Ask what I shall give you.” 

And Solomon, loving you, honoring you, 

humbly asked for “an understanding mind to govern my people” (1 Kings 3:5, 9). 

Solomon does show this wisdom for awhile, 

and he gets busy working to build you a temple. 

But then some cracks in his foundation become fissures, 

and before we know it, 

he has married 700 women 

who lead him to worship other gods (1 Kings 11:1-8). 

Lord, we want to cry out, 

“How could he,” 

but we know the truth, 

that whether it is work or wealth or women or wine 

or families or football or fashionable things—

we can take any good gift you give us 

and make it into a god we worship more than you. 

Merciful God,

we pray, show us the things that block us 

from loving you 

and following you 

and serving you 

and enjoying you. 

Thank you for giving us rest in Jesus. May we return to him today.

In Jesus’ kingly name. Amen.

Read 1 Kings 11.

A Prayer about Living in Faith, Hope, and Love

by | Oct 15, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Living in Faith, Hope, and Love

Do you need a little faith, a little hope, a little love?

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

Faithful Lord,

In a world that nags us, 

“You need more, 

to get more, 

to do more, 

to be more,”

help us to see that you have given us 

the “full assurance of faith,” 

your finished work for us on the cross. 

Now we can draw near to you 

with hearts relieved of guilt, 

for you have cleansed us from our sins (Heb. 10:22). 

In a world that makes us feel despair sometimes—

rising inflation, rising crime rates, rising poverty, 

we can “hold fast the confession of our hope,” 

not because we are so faithful, 

but because you are faithful, 

and you have promised your shalom 

will reign eternally. 

And because of the faith and hope you have given us, 

we can “consider” (be considerate) 

“how to stir one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). 

Lord, let us not forget 

that you are coming soon, 

and as we remember, 

may we live out your faith, hope, and love 

in a world desperate to know good news. 

In your re-creating name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 10:19-39.

A Prayer about the Possibility of Entering God’s Kingdom

by | Oct 14, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Possibility of Entering God’s Kingdom

Do you know how it’s possible to follow Christ? 

With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God. Mark 10:27

Christ our King,

In Mark 10:17-31, we read of a rich young man 

who truly seemed to want to know 

how to inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17). 

He did seem a little proud of his moral accomplishments—

he told you he had kept all the commandments you named 

(not noticing you left out a few big ones!) (Mark 10:20). 

But there was one thing he couldn’t do. 

He couldn’t sell all his possessions and follow you. 

Jesus, help us to see you in this true story—

you “felt genuine love” for this man (Mark 10:21). 

You knew it is impossible 

but for the work of the Spirit 

for any of us to give up the things 

that we make gods 

instead of the One, true Living God. 

Whether it’s money or relationships 

or work or family or shopping

or food or drink, 

we tend to look to other things 

for security and significance. 

We were “dead in our trespasses,” (Ephesians 2:1), 

and if it weren’t for your death on the cross, 

none of us would be able to inherit eternal life. 

Thanks be to God for his rich mercy, 

for making “us alive together” with you (Ephesians 2:4-5). 

Because he did, it is possible to follow you. 

Because he did, it is possible for us to inherit eternal life.

In your saving name. Amen.

Read Mark 10:17-31. 

A Prayer about Where to Focus

by | Oct 13, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Where to Focus

Do you need help with focus?

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. Colossians 2:8

Lord Jesus,

Forgive us for wasting our time and our brain space 

with all sorts of 

“empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense” 

that fill the screens we gaze upon. 

We scroll and scroll, 

looking for the next new thing, 

some great idea, 

never realizing how many of the thoughts we consume 

come from “human thinking” 

or ”the spiritual powers of this world.” 

Draw our gaze instead to you, 

the One in whom God’s fullness dwells 

in a human body (Col. 1:19). 

As we look on you, 

may we see that if you dwell in us, 

if we call you Savior, 

we have been “buried with you in baptism,” 

and now we have been “raised with you 

through faith 

in the powerful working of God” (Col. 2:12). 

Because of this mind-boggling truth, 

we can walk freely, 

forgiven, 

in you, 

and we can live for you, 

loving you and loving others with all we do. 

That’s really the only reality 

we need to focus on today or any day. 

In your saving name. Amen. 

Read Colossians 2:1-23.