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One ministry offers this advice to children when they face temptations: they should remember what they have learned; reflect on the danger of their actions; run away from the situation; and rely on God. That is good advice. When Jesus met Satan in the wilderness, Jesus came with a set of values based on the Scriptures. He responded to Satan based on these values. As Jesus faced crucifixion, He relied on prayer to enable Him to resist the temptation to turn back. We read this in Luke 22 as Jesus arrived at the Mount of Olives. He told his disciples, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” He walked away, about a stone’s throw. And knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. At last, he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” So we — after fortifying ourselves with the values of God’s word, we can turn to God in prayer for strength to say No to sin.
