Lead us not into Temptation

In Jesus prayer to his disciples he instructs them to pray, "... and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Now Jesus wasn't talking about keeping evil from us, but giving us the power to overcome it. There is verse after verse where writers of Scripture give us the answers available for this prayer. We are told to "flee youthful lust..." We are also warned to "submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

This prayer is not offering a magic wand to avoid the confrontation of temptation. It informs us that we will face it. Let us be heartened, God offers deliverance if we act obediently to His road map of rescue. This road map continues in the New Testament, but the Old testament was replete with the offer of escape and the ability not to be led into temptation, or fall to temptation. In Genesis 4, you will read how God confronted Cain and offered him an escape, "... If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it." In other words, "there is an out if you choose to walk in the Light, but, Dude you must want it." That is the Cookie translation, give me grace. LOL!

God offers instructions connected to his desire to, "deliver us from evil." The question, "do you really want to be delivered?" Here are a few passages you can look up and see the work necessary to experience victory, on your part. God warns that we are in a battle. Jesus reiterates that temptation toward evil will come through this famous prayer. To our exhale of relief, He's made the escape ready.

Psalm 119:11, 24, 25, 28, 92, 107, 153, 165, 173

I will leave you to do a bit of homework by looking up these verses in one Psalm, 119, easy enough. The warning to Cain is still ours, "... sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it."

This is not a "let go and let God." This is partnering with God to obey what He's readily made available. The power to win through His Word is available.