And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.‘ Matthew 6: 13
Jesus ends His prayer reminding the disciples not to give in to temptation and to ask God to deliver them from the evil one. Matthew 6:13 in the NLT says, And don’t let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
We know the story: Satan was kicked out of heaven and he begins his plan to separate us from God. Satan is real, and he’s not some guy that wears a red suit or is just a misunderstood being. His goal is to destroy your family. He wants to destroy you. He wants you addicted. He wants you questioning God and His goodness. That’s why he’s here. He will tempt us by appealing to our flesh and worldly desires. Often, he makes it so easy to give in, give up, believe we’re not good enough, or that we are good enough and still in control. We have to come to God and pray in the middle of those temptations.
Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians, 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
Horatio Palmer wrote a hymn we used to sing in the church where I grew up, Yield Not to Temptation. The verse and chorus goes like this:
Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin; Each vict’ry will help you some other to win; Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue; Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen, and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through.
Prayer can change your life. God can change you, transform you. He can set you free. I encourage you to hunger for prayer, to make time for prayer, to seek out God, and let Him change you. Like that old hymn, He is willing to help you, He will carry you through.
May God continue to lift you up and protect you from the evil one.