Jesus, make it clear to me that there are two ways for me to learn life-lessons from God. The best way is for me to give God permission to teach me the things I need to know. But, sometimes I am pretty hard-headed; sometimes I have to learn things the hard way. Give me a teachable attitude so You can just tell me things. Take Your new training information and help me start praying and asking for the power to be able to get it into my life. Help me not be one of those who just can’t learn certain things the easy way.

Jesus, teach me that God has committed Himself to honoring my decisions; show me that He is determined to maintain my God-given freedom of will. So, when I insist on doing things the way I feel would be best for me, He will allow me to go ahead and make my own decisions. Teach me that these human decisions lead me into tough situations where the temptation to do wrong is strong.

Jesus, when I am tempted, help me not say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt me; but I am tempted WHEN, by my own evil desire, I am dragged away and enticed (James 1:13-14). Make it clear to me that God, Himself, will never tempt me to do wrong; however, He will allow me to go my own way for a time. During this time, I will experience temptations to do wrong things. I will be allowed to see what it is like to start running my own life again. Let this help me see how important it is for me to allow God to do His will in my earthly life like it is done in heaven.

Jesus, help me understand that the temptation to do wrong or evil things is strong inside me. Addictive pleasure comes my way, when I yield to temptation. I thank You for healing my desire so that I now “want” to do good to and for myself and other people; however, teach me that my body still has a desire of its own.

Jesus, teach me the vital principle in Romans 7:22-23: For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. Help me understand that my inner being is the real me; I AM a spirit being, I LIVE IN a body, and I HAVE a soul.

Jesus, make it clear to me that it isn’t a sin to be tempted; it is only a sin if I YIELD to the temptation. Show me that, as I continue to study God’s Word, I will be trained on how to deal with the problems that Christians face with their bodies. Help me spend time being trained through the “Living Victoriously” courses. Let me get the Scriptures I need to help me with the temptations my body will be receptive to. Let the Living Victoriously courses help me add these Scriptures and Biblical concepts to my prayers.

Jesus, I am ready to start being set free from yielding to these and other temptations to hurt myself, those around me, and God’s plan. I now pray this portion of this prayer and say: “Lead us not into temptation.”