Matthew 26:41 warns we watch and pray so that we will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

God understands we are a people of good intentions but powerless to fulfill those intentions. Diets prove that to us on an all too frequent basis.

Even deep loving intentions are often unrealized like Peter’s promise not to ever deny Jesus which he failed within hours of making. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

We are creatures of the flesh, the feeling part of our nature, and we marvel at those few who are able to accomplish great things despite feeling otherwise. The remedy for this malady?

Prayer says God along with keeping our eyes on God through the Scriptures. We watch for Him to speak to us and to reveal to us the path we are to take then we pray for the faith and courage to take it.

Jesus did this in the garden when reminding Himself of God’s eternal plan for Him to be the Savior of the world as He prayed, ‘Your will be done.’

The will of God and the will of our flesh will almost never be in sync. This is why it is so disturbing to hear confessors of Christian belief to declare God’s will for them to be happy at the expense of obedience to the declaration this same God made in His Word.

The most famous chapter in the Bible, the love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13, lacks any feelings in its description of love except one; anger. We almost always think of love as an emotion but God defines love as a choice, a choice to act in a way that places the good of others above our own.

This is what He did when He removed His royal crown in order to become a servant so that He could endure the cross as Savior eventually rising from the dead to return as Lord of all.

We need more time in the Scriptures to learn the will of God and more time in prayer so that we might receive the power to do the will of God.

In this way we will not give into temptation but will fulfill those good intentions.