Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24

An Everyday Prayer

Father, I am available today. Help me add value to others. Guard my heart, guide my steps, and give me the courage to obey.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23

⁹ “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? ¹⁰ But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.”
Jeremiah 17:9,10a

²¹ “For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. ²³ All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”
Mark 7:21-23

Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
Psalm 12:2

Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
Proverbs 28:14

Take care, brothers and sisters, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12

Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
Proverbs 21:4

Because of people breaking the laws and sin being everywhere, the love in the hearts of many people will become cold.
Matthew 24:12

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
1 Corinthians 10:12

Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
Matthew 6:13

• Temptation is anything that promises

at the cost of

Reveal Answer

to God.

Two Truths about Temptation

1) It’s not a

to be tempted.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15

2) God will

tempt you.

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
James 1:13

STEPS OF TEMPTATION

¹⁴ Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. ¹⁵ These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
James 1:14,15

•

(Thought)

“Temptation comes from our own desires…” vs 14a

•

(Imagination & Justification)

“which entice us and drag us away.” vs 14b

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Genesis 3:6

•

(Choice & Sin)

“These desires give birth to sinful actions.” vs 15a

•

“when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” vs 15b

⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. ⁸ Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:7,8

OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

•

to God.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

•

the devil through scripture.

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9