“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one . . .”

GOD’S PROTECTION
We are taught to pray that we won’t be tempted to do wrong. In a practical way, this is like praying that God will keep our minds off of tempting situations. People used to excuse bad behavior by saying, “The devil made me do it.” But in reality, the devil cannot makes us do wrong. We do it ourselves. God won’t make us obey Him, but He does give us the power to walk away from wrong choices. The Holy Spirit gives us strength to withstand temptation, avoid sin, and strive for holiness. Satan is constantly seeking to attack the hearts and minds of those who love God. God provides us with the defense we need to protect ourselves against the weapons of Satan. By praying for protection, we prepare each day for battle against evil.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
“Therefore put on the whole armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”            (Ephesians 6:10-13a)

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
(1 Peter 1: 6-7)

The Greek word for “temptation” emphasizes the idea of testing or proving, rather than simply an enticement to sin. The Bible is clear that God is good and holy, and He would never lead us into sin. James 1: 13-14 says that God does not tempt anyone, but each person is tempted by his own evil desire. So why do we pray this petition? Because it’s better to avoid danger and all the trouble caused by sin than to have to fight and face the possibility of losing to it! Realistically, having the potential to do evil is part of being human — it gives us the opportunity to show what we are becoming. Genuine freedom requires that there be a choice between good and evil.
Yet, we also know that trials strengthen faith and character (1 Peter 1:6-7). Through our trials, we are driven closer to God through prayer and Scripture. We are reminded not to place our trust in ourselves. Through trials, we learn to trust God more, and we gain the ability to help others in similar trials. So while human nature resists the realities of trials and temptations, the maturing Christian accepts the refining process they bring.All that’s left is to throw ourselves on the Father who has promised not to leave us unprotected and exposed to attacks from the enemy (Satan), but to protect, deliver, and forgive.