Prayer doesn’t always have to start with fancy words like “our gracious heavenly Father.” Jesus himself taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:13 (ESV). Jesus said, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
When you need deliverance from temptation, you can get right to the point: “Help!” The Bible is full of people who prayed for deliverance; people like David, Daniel, Isaiah, Esther, Peter, and Paul.
Psalm 50:15 (NIV) says, “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” God didn’t say you must have a long conversation with Him. You can just say, “Help, God! I’m facing some difficulties now that my willpower will not get me through.”
God knows everything that you’re going through and He sympathizes with your pain. He knows how irritating some people are to you, He knows your health situation, He knows about your temptations.
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV) says, 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jesus is sympathetic to our temptations because He faced the same temptations that you face. He was tempted but didn’t sin; He’s just who you need to help you overcome your temptations. When you are tempted, God is not angry with you. He does not scold you. On the contrary, He wants you to boldly go to him. He says, “I’m here to help.”
～Rev. Jireh Lin 林以勒牧師～