Part 10: Lead us not

It would appear in Matthew 6:13 of the Lord’s Prayer, that we are to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” On its surface, we are to ask God not to do something He wouldn’t do in the first place, as James 1:13 declares. “Let no man say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted of God:’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man.”

We are not asking God not to tempt us, but we are asking God to protect us and guide us away from temptation’s grasp, by helping us to endure circumstances that would lure us into any godless action(s). Then, to keep protecting us and to “deliver us from evil,” [1] and give us strength if God allows the temptation.

There hath no temptation taken you but as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it. [1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV]

There are people, places, and things that are perilous to our walk with the Lord when we are trying to follow and honor Him. You can find a prime example of all three in Genesis 2:16 and 17 when God tried to warn Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And we all know how that turned out. Where did Adam and Eve end up? They ended up underneath the tree from which they were to stay away [2]. In other words, stay away from the people, places, and/or things that could tempt us.

Father, I do not want anything in me that does not glorify, magnify, or exemplify Jesus Christ, your Son. I do not want anything in me that does not look like, sound like, or act like Jesus Christ. So, Father, please help me not to make any decisions toward sin, and I ask for deliverance from Satan. In your precious name, AMEN!

Your grace is sufficient for me [2 Corinthians 12:9].
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[1] Matthew 6:13b
[2] Genesis 3:6