Lead us not into temptation
It’s not that we’re asking God to not tempt us, He doesn’t do that. We’re asking Him to guard us and keep us safe from temptation, from our own sinful nature and from the devil.
In Matthew 4 we read “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” Are you in the desert? A place of temptation? Where do you see Satan working to tempt you? In this same story the devil tempts a hungry Christ to turn rocks into bread to satisfy Christ’s hunger. Where have you let rocks become bread in your life?
Take with you a rock to remind you that Christ is our Rock! He is the Living Stone and Breath of our Salvation. It is He who leads us away from temptation as we realize His presence in our lives.
As you pray…
+ Pick up a rock, hold it tightly and name those things that regularly tempt you.
+ Ask for God to send His holy angels to protect you during times of temptation.
+ Ask that God would strengthen you to stay away from situations where temptation is especially strong.
Reflect + Respond
1. Into what kinds of evil does the devil and our enemies try to mislead/tempt us? (Galatians 5:17)
2. What are we really asking God to do for us when we pray this petition? (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)