Cottonwood Church | Prayer week 7

Week 7

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A Prayer for Guidance against Temptation

Overview:

It’s difficult to know how to avoid sin and how to lead a life pleasing to God, especially when the world around us lives contrary to God. Psalm 19:13-14 shows us that we can ask God for supernatural wisdom and guidance. We can also regularly ask God for His correction, forgiveness, and grace when we mess up.

Prayer Prompt for the Week:

Every day, we face complicated decisions. At the beginning of the day, ask God for wisdom and guidance to do the right thing. At the end of the day, ask God to give you gracious correction and forgiveness in the areas you fell short

Prayer:

“Lord, I come before You with a broken and contrite heart. I confess my sins to You and ask for Your forgiveness. Wash me clean from all unrighteousness. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Don’t cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. I trust in Your mercy, knowing that You are faithful to forgive. I surrender my life to You and ask You to make me whole again.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Questions for Reflection:

Are there any situations or decisions you are facing that feel morally complicated to you?
What are your “weak spots” – areas of your life where you experience a lot of temptation to do the wrong thing?
Are there any decisions you’ve made in the past that make you feel regret, guilt, or shame? What would it look like to receive both God’s correction and His forgiveness for those situations?

Tips for Using This Prayer:

Start of the Day: Spend 5 minutes thinking about the decisions you will have to make throughout the day and the situations that will most likely tempt you to sin. Write them down in a journal if you’d like. Ask God to help you remember His Word, and to give you supernatural wisdom and guidance by His Holy Spirit.
Throughout the Day: Pay attention to the voice of the Holy Spirit as you make various decisions and face various temptation.
End of the Day: Spend 5 minutes reflecting on the decisions you made throughout the day. Ask God to bring attention to specific moments that might need correction. Thank Him that He has forgiven you, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grow in wisdom for the next time you need to make a similar decision. If you have any resolutions for the next day, write them down.

Final Encouragement:

Remember, growth is a process that happens by God’s grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we don’t make mistakes—it means that when we make mistakes, we turn to Him for forgiveness and for the strength to change.

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