Press the arrow to listen to Hillsong United sing “One Way Jesus” while reading today’s devotion about being delivered from temptation.

Scripture
Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot…. Luke 22:3

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat…. Luke 22:31

Pray that you may not enter into temptation. Luke 22:40

Observation
I was cheering on some of our new cafe staff, freshly hired at New Life Church to serve as cooks and servers. One sentence brought nods from all in the room, “When you were hired, a target was painted on your back, because the choice to serve in full-ministry is also the decision to become vulnerable to Satan. That is why our daily devotional life is so significant.”

Judas and Simon both had the red laser dot on their vulnerable spot as Satan took aim. For Simon there would be threshing and tossing in the wind that would separate the wheat from the chaff. For Judas the offense he harbored against Jesus gave Satan and open window to crawl into his life and take over the controls. Satan does not make our weaknesses; he just exploits them.

Application
The good news is that we can pray not to enter that vulnerable place. It is a remarkable thing that we can pray to avoid temptation. The promise is so good, it almost seems like an unfair advantage. But this prayer is ours to pray.

How should we pray it over ourselves? We should remember that Satan studies us like prey looking for our weaknesses. The more we read the word of God, listen to mature advice and respond to the correcting of the Holy Spirit, the more we will know our soft spots. These vulnerabilities are what we must bring to the Lord in prayer. He does not ask us to be perfect, just surrendered. The choice is who has access to my flaws first, Satan or the Holy Spirit? If I will listen to the voice of the Spirit today I can be spared.

Prayer
Father, today I know my weaknesses only a little, but what I can see I give to you. Please, for Jesus’ sake, lead me not into temptation. I give you access to my flaws so that I may be disciplined by the Holy Spirit rather than devastated by the Enemy. Amen.