February 22 - HOW TO PRAY

Ask God for Help in Temptation

Icebreaker
When you’re under pressure — tired, stressed, or overwhelmed — what’s your default reaction: fix it fast, ignore it, pray about it, or eat something you probably shouldn’t?


Study Questions

1. In Matthew 6:13, what do you notice about the difference between asking God to remove testing and asking Him to deliver us through it?
2. The word "deliver" carries the sense of "pulling through." How does that shape your understanding of what Jesus is teaching us to pray when we are tempted by evil or the evil one?
3. In Matthew 4:1–4, how was Jesus’ hunger a real and legitimate need? What made the temptation wrong?
4. In Matthew 4:5–7, how can quoting Scripture or talking about faith actually become a way of testing God rather than trusting Him?
5. In Matthew 4:8–11, what does Jesus’ refusal of power without obedience reveal about the kind of kingdom He came to establish?

Application Questions

1. Where in your life right now are you feeling pressure or scarcity that could tempt you toward self-sufficiency rather than trust? What would it look like to pray, “Father, I trust You to provide”?
2. Have you ever found yourself subtly demanding that God prove His love to you? What might it look like to choose trust instead of control in that situation?
3. Is there an opportunity in your life that feels good but may require compromise? How can you pray for integrity and faithfulness before you make a decision?
4. What would it look like this week to pray Matthew 6:13 before the testing hits, rather than only after you feel overwhelmed?

Prayer
Ask God to show you where your faith is currently being tested and to give you the humility to depend on Him instead of yourself. Pray for one another to be rescued from evil and strengthened to remain faithful in seasons of pressure, disappointment, and ambition.