How to Win Against Temptation 📖 | Matthew Devotional (7-Step QT)

January 17, 2026

7-Step QT Notes

1. 🙏 Quiet Time

Pause.

Take a deep breath.

Ask God to strengthen you through His Word to face today’s challenges.

2. 📅 January 18, 2026

Today’s passage reminds us:

Victory over temptation comes through God’s Word, not our strength.

3. ✝️ Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil after fasting forty days. Satan tempted Him three times: to turn stones into bread, to test God by jumping from the temple, and to worship Satan for worldly kingdoms. Each time, Jesus resisted by quoting Scripture, affirming reliance on God’s Word and worshiping Him alone. Finally, the devil left, and angels came to minister to Jesus.

4. 📖 Key Verse

“It is written…” (vv. 4, 7, 10)

5. 📝 Reflection

After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, God and the Holy Spirit declared Him as God’s beloved Son. Then the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Seizing the opportunity, Satan posed three fundamental challenges, questioning what Jesus would do as the Son of God. Amazingly, Jesus did not use His divine power but overcame every temptation by quoting Scripture.

Today, the world grows increasingly hostile to faith. Even in democratic nations, speaking about Jesus in schools or public spaces is becoming illegal. Humanistic ideologies claiming “religion is harmful” are gaining influence, and the pressure against believers is intensifying. Though we may not face physical threats, the challenges to our faith are real. So what should we do?

Dear friends, starting each day with God’s Word through Quiet Time follows the same victory principle Jesus used in the wilderness. QT means clinging to God’s Word and relying on Christ’s power, who has already won the ultimate victory. Let us remember we cannot live a moment without His Word and strive to overcome every trial today through Scripture.

6. 💬 What does this passage speak to you today?

Where am I most tempted to compromise my faith?
How can I make Scripture my first defense today?
What verse will I hold on to when challenges come?

7. 🙏 Prayer

Lord, help me fight every temptation with Your Word.

Remind me that victory is found in You, not in my strength.

Fill me with courage to stand firm and live for Your glory today.

Amen.

Scriptures

📖 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him (Matthew 4:1-11, ESV).

7-Step Quiet Time Devotional 🙏