January 9th: Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil
Today marks the 9th of our 21 days of prayer. Today, as we spend time with God in prayer, we petition “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. “ (Mt 6:13).
This final petition recorded here in the Lord’s prayer calls to attention the fact that we each experience times of testing & temptation in this life. It should be noted that the greek word translated as temptation here is translated elsewhere in the New Testament as testing. It should also be noted the Apostle James notes that times of testing are something God allows/permits/directs, while temptation is not something that originates with God, but rather arises out of our own desires (Jas 1:12-15). Instead God is the one who delivers us from evil and provides a way of escape in moments of temptation (1 Cor 10:13); i.e. deliver us from evil.
Meaning that when Jesus directed us to pray: And lead us not into temptation, it seems that He was directing his disciples to “pray either for relief from testing (Ex. 16:4; Dt 8:16; 1 Pt 1:7) or for their testing not to become an occasion for temptation.”1
At the same time, in anticipation of the times of temptation we do experience, we are to pray that the temptations we do experience not be beyond our ability to handle, and that our eyes would be open to the way of escape that God promises to provide (1 Cor 10:13).
As you spend time praying today, spend time praying about areas where you will or are being tested right now; that they not become an occasion for temptation. At the same time, pray that when temptations arise, that you will be mindful of the ways of escape that God can and will provide.
1 NIV Application Commentary: Matthew. Loc. 5619. Kindle Edition.