How to Pray Temptation

How to Pray

Temptation

All of us hate phone scammers and solicitors

They want to lead you into something you don’t want or need

So hang up on temptation and call the Father asking Him to “lead you”  “in your righteousness” “lead me in a straight path”, “lead me in the way everlasting”

So when we read “lead us not” we should think of the opposite “lead us”

Our prayer to have the Father lead us in all His ways will keep us from temptation

But when trials come we have the right to ask the Father to protect us

We should remember Jesus’ words in His hour of great trial

When He told His disciples

                            "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.                                        The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41

Temptation

“Lead us not into temptation”

This part of prayer has caused me to question

why would God the Father lead us into temptation?

I think I have found some answers.

First think of the opposite.

If we are to ask God not to lead us

into temptation, maybe we should

ask the Father what to lead us into?

Maybe the approach to understanding this part

of the prayer is focus on asking God to “lead us”.

We all know what it is to be

drawn by our own lust and desire.

We can even find ourselves praying

for things that are not our best.

Father, don’t allow me

to follow my temptations.

 

The opposite is found in the Psalms.

Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness

because of my enemies —

make straight your way before me.

Psalm 5:8

Teach me your way, O LORD;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors.

Psalm 27:11

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:24

So if we are to pray not to lead into

temptation we should pray...
 "lead me in your righteousness”

“lead me in a straight path”,

“lead me in the way everlasting”

Another look at how to pray lead us not

into temptation is to realize the word

“temptation” also means trial test.

The testing of our faith is a real thing.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,…

James 1:2-4

This verse to the Church in

Philadelphia may hold some answers.

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently,

I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come

upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Revelation 3:10

Jesus demonstrates the prayer of

deliverance for us in John 17…

I pray for them.

 I am not praying for the world,

but for those you have given me,

for they are yours.

John 17:9

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world

but that you protect them from the evil one.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

John 17:15-17

The prayer is to sanctify us by the Word of Truth.

Temptation comes from deception or solicitation,

only the truth keeps us free.

Living by the “word of truth” will deliver

us from many trials, but tests will come

to prove we are living by the truth.

We cannot escape the testing of our faith.

But we can pray that the Father will show

us the away of escape He has provided.

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

So when we read “lead us not” we

should think of the opposite “lead us”.

Our prayer to have the Father lead us in

all His ways will keep us from temptation.

But when trials come we have the

right to ask the Father to protect us.

We should remember Jesus’ words in His

hour of great trial when He told His disciples…

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Matthew 26:41

Scripture Reading

Matthew 6:9-13 NIV

9 "This, then, is how you should pray:

"'Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.'