Dear God, guard and preserve us that the devil, the world, and our own flesh may not deceive us, nor lead us into error, unbelief, and sin. Teach us to watch and pray always that, abiding faithful even unto death, we may be accounted worthy to escape those things that shall come to pass on the earth and to stand before the Son of man, Jesus our Lord, who shall come to be our Judge. Keep us steadfast in faith and love, that we may in no wise fail to obtain that inheritance which He has promised to all who love Him. In Jesus' name. Amen. (Second Sunday in Advent, Clemens H. Zeidler, Altar Prayers, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1964).
The Battle Between the Spirit and the Flesh: Jesus said, "Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26.41). Paul said, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law" (Galatians 5.16-18). When Paul says "not under the law," he means that we are not under the control of the law and sin. This is a good chapter to read. It lists the vices of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me in my internal battle between the spirit and the flesh. I know that You have forgiven me and given me faith. Help me struggle on in this journey of life so that Your good will always arise and overcome the bad that wants to take back control of everything. Amen. (MPW 2019)