Introductory Prayer: I believe, Lord, that with your example and help I can overcome temptation in my life. I hope in you, Lord, because you know that I am weak, and therefore you give me your grace which is stronger than sin. I love you, Lord, and I know that love for you and for souls will give me the strength to overcome sin in my life and help others to overcome it as well.
Petition: Lord, may prayer and vigilance keep me from falling into temptation.
1. The Spiritual Is More Important than the Material Jesus teaches us to give more importance to the spiritual than to the material. However, man is weak, and he easily considers that satisfying his material needs justifies his not doing God’s will. If we don’t follow Christ’s advice, then being tired will be a good enough reason not to pray, being in a bad mood will be a good enough reason not to live charity, and having a great idea will be a good enough reason to act as we want, not as we are taught. The devil’s strategy is to make us look more at ourselves and our needs, than to look at God, his will, and the needs of the Church and of others.
2. The Problem with Overconfidence Jesus teaches us that our actions have to correspond with what God wants, not with what we think he wants. There is always the danger of supposing that God thinks like we do, instead of seeking with all our strength to think as he does. Remember what Christ told Peter when Peter dared tell Jesus what he had to do (to stop talking about his future suffering and death): “Get behind me Satan.” Lent is a golden opportunity for us to “turn to the Lord,” the only source of true happiness. We put out trust in God when we make him the reference point of both our troubles and our joys, and when we turn to him in prayer, including moments set aside specifically for that purpose, as well as by invocations and brief, warm, spontaneous prayers throughout the day. Do I put my trust in the Lord through these ways of prayer?
3. Only God Deserves Our Worship Obviously, we don’t consciously deny God and worship idols. But we shouldn’t forget that our heart will be where our treasure is. If Christ is not our treasure, then we will worship ourselves, others, things, money, honors, fame… While we wouldn’t genuflect in front of our new computer or that stylish outfit we just bought, we may give these objects more importance than they deserve. That only God deserves our worship is a very demanding reality. This means that God has to be the center of our thoughts, words, desires, actions and plans. Vigilance involves constantly purifying our intentions and desires so that Our Lord continues to reign supreme in our heart, as the One from whom we came and to whom we are heading as the goal and reward of our entire life. Is Christ the King of my heart?
Conversation with Christ: Dear Lord, help me understand that prayer and detachment from material things are necessary means for overcoming temptation. Help me remember that you overcame temptation in order to teach us all how we can overcome it, too. Help me to stay vigilant and united to you through prayer.
Resolution: In a moment of temptation, I will try to remember what God wants and ask him for his help.
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