The Gutsy Girl’s Guide to PrayerSample

God Knows Your Limits

Sometimes sin gets the best of us. Our fleshly desires win out. We may love the Lord and want to follow His ways, but there are moments when we want what we want. And rather than take God up on His promise to show us an escape route, we grab for what’s enticing. Or we try to withstand temptation in our own strength. . and lose. We don’t reach out to God, and we don’t ask for help from friends either. Maybe it’s because we feel ashamed. It may be embarrassing to share what’s tugging at us, or we may be afraid of coming under harsh judgment or being looked at differently moving forward. Or maybe we think the best idea is just to handle it ourselves. Whatever the reasoning, this kind of thinking contradicts the Word and is a bad strategy for countless reasons.

The truth is that we are not alone in these cravings. Today’s passage says many others have faced the same problems. But most importantly, let’s praise God for recognizing our limitations! He knows how far we can be stretched and will not allow the testing to go further. It’s a promise He will always make good on. We can trust it!

So, what do we do when the cravings and urges start to take hold? We pray. We ask for courage. We ask for an increase in faith to stand against the enemy, and we pray without ceasing and with hopeful hearts. We admit our weakness and ask for God’s strength. We bring each temptation into the light, exposing it. We choose to believe He will intervene in mighty ways, and we thank Him now for what He will do for us. We connect with a trusted friend for support and prayer, too.

Prayer: Dear Lord, what a relief to know you won't let me be pushed too far by temptation. I trust your promises and am grateful for such a compassionate father. Strengthen me for the battle ahead. In Jesus' name. Amen.