Jesus, I Need You... When I Am Tempted

Temptation is all around us, but as we learn in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus taught us how to overcome it: with the Word of God.

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Dear Jesus,

Why is self-control so difficult? Whether it’s overeating, spending too much time on my phone, or losing my temper, sometimes my self-control slips, and I do the very thing that I don’t want to do. How I wish I didn’t have to struggle with right and wrong! But I do know that I never have to struggle alone.

Jesus, You’ve promised to help me stand strong against temptation. I must remember to call upon You and Your strength when my self- control is put to the test. But even before temptation comes, I need to be ready— just as You were ready when Satan tempted You. Help me arm myself with Scripture, just as You did, so I can fight off the enemy’s attacks. Fill me with Your kind of strength, the kind that comes from trusting the Father. Jesus, I know You are always with me, and I’m so thankful. You fill in the gaps left by my imperfections. I trust You, Jesus, to keep me safe and to make me strong.

Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. — Hebrews 2:18

Temptation is all around us, but Jesus taught us how to overcome it.

Read Matthew 4:1–11.

When temptation came, Jesus was prepared by being armed with the Word of God.

Excerpted with permission from Jesus, I Need You, copyright Zondervan.

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Your Turn

What are your temptations? Spend some time in God’s Word, searching for verses that will arm you against those temptations, as Jesus did when He was tempted by Satan in the desert. Use God’s Word as a ready reference for when trouble comes.

Join the comments section below and tell us about how you use Scriptures to combat temptation!

About the Book

Have you ever written a letter to Jesus? What other ways can you communicate with Him besides prayer? Jesus, I Need You is a collection of devotions and prayers to Jesus, written as letters. Each letter covers a topic or feeling that we all have likely been through before, helping us connect with God more intimately and encourage healthy communication with Christ. Following each letter is a short devotional and inspiring message. We pray this inspires you to write a letter to Jesus and live with unwavering faith in every season.