Vital signs- Wednesday, June 15th, 2022

Tell God Your Fears and Temptations

Let me ask you to think about these questions - In what area of your life do you need more self-control? What is your greatest fear? The fear of failure? The fear of bad health? The fear of a divorce? The fear of rejection? The fear of the future? Jesus wants you to talk to him about the areas where you're most tempted. He wants you to talk to him about the things you most fear. He understands our fears and temptations: Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15 TEV) The Bible says Jesus came to earth and experienced every temptation known to man, the same ones we experience, yet he didn't give in. It is not a sin to be tempted; the sin is when we give in to temptation. And that means when you pray -- "Jesus, I'm struggling in this area. I keep stumbling. I keep failing" -- Jesus understands because he's been there. He knows what it's like. The Bible says we can have "confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it." (Hebrews 4:16 TEV)