"And lead us not into temptation..." Praying The Lord's Prayer - Part 5

Quick review! One day when Jesus was still on the earth, one of His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray:

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.'”— Luke 11:1

If you’ve been with me lately, you know I’ve been writing a series of blog posts based on the outline Jesus taught them, which we have come to refer to as The Lord’s Prayer. 

We have come through the opening – addressing God as we open the conversation.  He is our Father!  Wow.  Where are we sending our prayer?  Where He lives – in  heaven!

“Our Father, which art in heaven…”

Then, immediately we are taught to lift His name higher than the highest, hallowing His precious, most magnificent and holy name. 

Remember that if God is our Father, then we have been born of God.  One of my very favorite "brothers in Christ" Bruce Adams, who I affectionately call "Big B" recently remarked,

“Not everyone is a child of God; we are all God’s creation because He created us, but being born again is how we become His children.” 

This is an important distinction and an excellent topic for another day, but just know for now that the one prerequisite to my praying to God as my Father is having been made His child through faith in the death and resurrection of His Son – Jesus Christ – for the forgiveness of my sin.*  This transaction of faith is how we are supernaturally adopted into the family of God and become not only His creation - His handiwork - but His children.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” — Romans 8:15

“…hallowed be Thy name.” 

Then, our first “prayer request” is that His perfect will be done here on this corrupt earth the very same as it is in crystal-pure heaven.  This looks forward to the day when His kingdom will finally be established over all, heaven and earth, with no competing kingdoms to be found – anywhere.  (I can’t wait, can you?) 😊 

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” 

Following that glorious opening, which already speaks volumes in just a few sentences, our prayer requests and focus turn from God to us. 

1)     “Give us this day our daily bread”

2)    “…and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

And that brings us to the petition of today’s focus:

3)    “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” 

This prayer – “Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil” acknowledges that I am vulnerable and entirely dependent on God for His help while walking this earth.   This builds within me a spirit of humility, as I realize I have the potential to really screw things up and need His continual protection.  My righteous standing in Christ – my salvation – is secure for eternity the moment I believe,* but the pull of the sinful nature remains and is something I will have to contend with on a daily basis.  In addition there are spiritual adversaries - enemies - who would like nothing better when it comes to me than to throw me off a course of diligent and devoted discipleship.

---

"And lead us not into temptation..." ???

At this point, an important question naturally arises:  Does God tempt us?  It almost sounds like it, doesn’t it?

But the Bible explains:

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”  James 1:13

So that’s good to know.  God doesn’t dangle a tempting carrot in front of us to test us – to see if we can bear up under it.  He is never a source of temptation.  He can – and does – use the temptation we endure and bear up under to refine and strengthen us, but He doesn’t put temptation in our way Himself: 

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life…” — James 1:12

So when we pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” we are not asking God to stop doing something He would otherwise do; we are asking Him to guide us away from situations where our weakness would be exposed and to guard us from paths that would lead us toward sin.

---

Where, then, does temptation come from?  There are two sources:

1) From within

2) From without

The Bible further describes these as:

1) The World

2) The Flesh

3) The Devil

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father…” — 1 John 2:16

So, basically, what we have here are the temptations of the world beckoning to the lusts of our flesh—and the devil taking full advantage of it all by pouring his high-test gasoline on the fire!

FROM WITHIN – my sin nature 

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” — James 1:14

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other…”  — Galatians 5:17

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”— Romans 6:12

---

The Primary Arenas of Temptation

1. The Lust of the Flesh — appetites and cravings

This includes physical desires that seek fulfillment outside of God’s design—sexual sin, indulgence, addiction, comfort-seeking at the expense of obedience.

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh…” — 1 John 2:16

This is where temptation often feels the most immediate and compelling—“I want this now.”

2. The Lust of the Eyes — desire for what we see

This is the pull toward possessions, beauty, status symbols—anything we fix our eyes on and begin to covet.

“…the lust of the eyes…”  — 1 John 2:16

This includes materialism, comparison, envy, and the subtle dissatisfaction that says, “What I have is not enough.”

3. The Pride of Life — ego, status, and self-exaltation

“…and the pride of life…” — 1 John 2:16

This can include:

• craving recognition or validation

• desire for control or power

• self-reliance apart from God

• subtle spiritual pride

This is often the most deceptive category because it can look “respectable.”  It can be a huge trap for people “working hard to get ahead,” for example.

Working hard to get ahead – to provide for our needs and the needs of our families and others - isn’t the problem, but achievement can easily lead us to take credit, pat ourselves on the back, ignore God as the source of our success, and we can begin to feel entitled to various indulgences; i.e., sins.  Kind of the, “I work hard, I deserve this…” attitude.   

And this is how temptation has always operated:

• Eve in the garden (Genesis 3) 

  • good for food → lust of the flesh

  • pleasing to the eyes → lust of the eyes

  • desirable to make one wise → pride of life

• Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4) 

  • turn stones to bread → physical appetite

  • kingdoms of the world → possession/power

  • throw Yourself down → pride / testing God

Same categories. Same strategy.  Same enemy.  😣

So, even though sin is no longer our master, it is still a force within us that must be resisted on a continual basis.  It can’t be done once and for all.  The believer lives in this tension—no longer enslaved, yet still engaged in a daily battle.

---

FROM WITHOUT - SATAN – Spiritual Warfare

At the same time, we also have a powerful external, invisible, spiritual adversary:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”  — 1 Peter 5:8

That right there can make me shudder.   Think about it!  I have a powerful spiritual enemy who is watching to catch me off guard so he can pounce on me like a viscious lion! 

The Bible makes clear that this opposition is both organized and intentional:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” — Ephesians 6:12

I shy away from over-fixation on demonic activity – “The devil made me do it” mentality.  However, Scripture assures us we are living the Christian life in a war zone – the always-active spiritual war between good and evil.  The devil knows us well, and demonic spiritual forces exploit our own weaknesses and scheme against us to amplify them. 

What do we do? I like what I call the “resist/draw-near” combat tactic:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  — James 4:7

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” — James 4:8

---

Provision for Handling Temptation

In spite of the fact that the world, the flesh, and the devil all conspire to derail my intended life of obedience, scripture also gives tremendous assurance in the midst of this reality:

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape…”  — 1 Corinthians 10:13

Temptation may be fierce, but it is never unique to me, never beyond God’s awareness, and never without a God-provided path of escape.  This is probably why the prayer is not, “Remove all temptation,” but rather, “Lead us not into it… deliver us from it.”  It is a request for guidance away from situations that weaken, and for rescue when pressure mounts.

---

The means God has provided for doing this are both spiritual and practical.

First, there is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit:

“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”  — Galatians 5:16

Willpower alone can't do it. It requires walking in step with the Spirit of God. Remember, that believers are actually indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We can quench or suppress His power by our deliberate disobedience, but the minute we repent of our sin, space is opened back up for Him to fill and direct us in our attitude, thinking, and actions with greater freedom and ease.

Second, there is the armor of God:

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” — Ephesians 6:11

Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God—these are not abstract concepts but active defenses.

Third, there is the steady, daily practice of abiding:

·       Time in the Word sharpens discernment.

·       Ongoing conversation with God strengthens awareness and dependence, so "pray without ceasing!" Keep up that constant dialogue with God throughout the day. Confess sin as soon as it occurs, and meditate on the truths you know from His Word. This is a key reason for immersing ourselves in the reading of His Word and memorizing Bible verses, as it is easy to call them to mind to fit the moment.

·       The company one keeps matters, and this is where many times believers can be pulled off course. Best to hang out socially with people who hold the same Biblical values high.

Temptations Abound in Todays World

This is especially important in a culture saturated with opportunity for temptation.  Access to nearly anything at any time, night or day, makes things more difficult than ever before when it comes to stong temptations. The battlefield is not distant—it is often as close as a screen, a thought, or a moment of compromise.

---

The Complication of Addictions

There is also wisdom in recognizing that some struggles carry additional layers. Physical addictions—whether to substances, behaviors, or patterns—can involve biochemical and neurological realities that require appropriate support.   Seeking help in such cases – such as joining AA if that fits, for example -  is not a failure of faith but an expression of humility and stewardship.  The enemy loves to keep people with addictions in an isolation of shame and fear so that they will resist reaching out for the very help that will assist in moving them towards freedom.

---

There is a reason this prayer includes a plea for deliverance.  

“But deliver us from evil…”

It is not merely about avoiding isolated moments of failure, but about guarding the direction and effectiveness of a life.

When a believer is persistently entangled in sin—not on occasion in a moment of weakness, but in a pattern that is tolerated, justified, or left unaddressed—the enemy’s aim is not simply the act itself.  The aim is what follows, and this is the heartbreaking reality of many who set out to serve Christ and become ensnared and derailed.  The life remains hidden with Christ in God, the eternal destiny is still heaven, but the vitality of serving God with exuberance and joy on a daily basis is stolen.  And... the wondrous works and adventures in service God has planned for them to join Him in become stifled. How does it happen?

1️⃣Distance from God begins to develop—not in position, but in fellowship.

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God…”  — Isaiah 59:2

The relationship is not broken, but the closeness is dulled.  Prayer becomes less natural.  The Word feels less alive.  Sensitivity to the Spirit is muted.

2️⃣Clarity becomes clouded.

“But exhort one another daily… lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” — Hebrews 3:13

What was once obviously wrong becomes negotiable.  Conviction softens.   Lines blur.  

The believer begins to rationalize what he or she once resisted.

3️⃣Strength is gradually weakened.

 “His strength went from him…”  — Judges 16:20

Like Samson (if unfamiliar, read the whole story in Judges 16), a person may not immediately perceive the loss.  Outward life may continue for a time, but inwardly, power is diminishing.

4️⃣Usefulness in the Kingdom is hindered.

“A vessel unto honour… meet for the master’s use…” — 2 Timothy 2:21

The enemy knows that a distracted, compromised believer is far less effective. Again, not disqualified from salvation—but diminished in impact.

5️⃣Joy is replaced with heaviness.

“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation…”  — Psalm 51:12 – King David prayed this after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed in battle so he could marry her.

There is often a low-grade unrest—a lack of peace, a sense of distance, a weight that lingers beneath the surface.  This is so NOT what God has planned for those who love Him! 

And if persisted in, this path can lead to regret—not condemnation, but the sober realization of what could have been.

“When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long… thy hand was heavy upon me…”  — Psalm 32:3–4

This is what the enemy seeks—not merely sin, but distraction, dullness, and diminished purpose, and it is all about his hatred of Jesus Christ – not us, primarily.  No, it is about muffling the brilliant, shining voices of we believers as we share the gospel and engage in whatever Kingdom work He has for each one of us.  This is meant as an insult to Jesus Christ.  The attacks against us to mute our power through Him are really attacks against Him.  

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…”  — John 15:20

And when it comes to us, we are not truly happy if we are not vitally engaged, and we lose opportunities we have while here on earth to bring the greatest glory we can to His most wonderful name. 

There is something deeply sobering about watching this happen in real time.

Over the years, I have seen a few dear brothers and sisters in Christ—people who truly love the Lord—become entangled and gradually pulled off course. It makes me both very sad and, honestly, angry—not at them, but at the enemy who seeks to derail and diminish those who belong to Christ.

Scripture makes it clear that this is not imaginary.  Again:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”  — 1 Peter 5:8

And that reality should not make us fearful—but it should make us intentional.

It has strengthened my conviction that we are not meant to fight these battles alone.  We are called to fight for one another.

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit… for all saints.” — Ephesians 6:18

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”  — Galatians 6:2

Sometimes the believer who is struggling doesn’t yet see how far they’ve drifted.  Sometimes they feel it, but don’t know how to find their way back.  And sometimes they are simply weary and not in fighting condition.

This is where the body of Christ becomes essential.  We watch.  We care.  We pray.

And we do not give up on one another.

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death…”— James 5:19–20

---

Good News! There is Always a Way Back for “the Backslider”

When it comes to our daily temptations and sins, whether we are a believer walking in close fellowship with God or a believer in a more serious state of persistent sin, at any moment, the direction can change.  It’s all up to us, and we can flip the switch in an instant! 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9

We get back on track, rembering that the Lord keeps no record of our wrongs.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”— Psalm 103:12

“For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” — Psalm 103:14

---

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…”

So this portion of The Lord’s Prayer is deeply practical and deeply needed.   

It isn’t just “keep me from doing wrong,” but “keep my life aligned, my heart soft, and my purpose clear, so that I may have no reason to be ashamed when we finally meet face to face!”

---

A fitting way to close is with the beloved hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, which so honestly captures the tension we have been talking about. It celebrates the grace that has drawn us to God—“Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by Thy help I’m come”—while also acknowledging the ongoing struggle within the believer: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” That single line expresses what this entire portion of the Lord’s Prayer addresses. We are secure in Christ, yet aware of our tendency to drift, and so we ask for His help to keep us steady. And the hymn does not leave us there—it turns immediately to surrender: “Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.” What a beautiful echo of this prayer: not just a plea to be kept from temptation, but a willing offering of the heart to the One who alone can keep it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKOoeTbjSeI

*Interested in knowing how to enter into a personal relationship with God through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Say a Salvation Prayer and Receive Jesus Christ Today.

Of course, the saying of a prayer is the reflection of a monumental and life-changing heart decision, but this is a good guide.