Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Today’s Reflection:

In the devotion book On the Road – which I am reading with my two sons-in-law – Marshall Duke has an article, “Are You Hurricane Ready?” He concludes with “Better check your armor, for certainly a storm is brewing.” Wise counsel. I wrote the following (plus some other stuff) to Jon and Eric.

I remember something I read years ago when I was studying for the ministry. The author said something like this, and I paraphrase: Where you think you are the strongest you are the weakest. You need to be aware that Satan will attack you there because you don’t feel you need to defend that area. I didn’t believe it at first, but years of experience – both as a pastor and as a man trying to follow God – have shown me how right he is. I have learned that it is where I may feel safest that I need to pray most faithfully, “lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.”

Several years ago I began praying – daily – that God would deliver me from certain things. The list started small – I think three things. Soon I added three more things. The funny thing was – I didn’t feel like I could stop praying about the first three. Over the past 5 or 6 years, I have added things occasionally. I actually have a list of them in my prayer book – just the first letters – so it maintains my privacy. I’ve prayed them so much, though, I have them memorized. It is humbling to know that I need so much grace! Today, I have 21 – that’s right 21! – things that I pray for victory over daily.

I use the Lord’s Prayer as my outline for prayer each day. When I get to the part where I pray, “and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil,” I pray, “God deliver me from the evils of…” and then I recount each of the 21 things before God. God is helping me, daily, but I continue to need his strength and deliverance. I am so weak, but Jesus is so strong!

I hope you have a wonderful day. And, don’t forget to pray as Jesus taught us: “Lead us not into temptation.”

This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Ezekiel 36.25-27: I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws