40 DAYS OF PRAYER: DAY 19

Gods Protection

Matthew 6:13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

I grew up reading the Lords prayer and really didn't have a clue as to what I was actually reading. One day, two or three years ago I was studying this prayer and when I got to this verse, I had an “AHA” moment ! You mean I can actually pray that God helps me NOT be tempted? I do not want to sin, so if I can pray asking God to keep my mind away from tempting situations, thats powerful. People use the catch phrase all the time; “The Devil made me do it”, but I would remind us all that we have free will, and can choose what we are going to do. Just as God is not going to make us do what He wants, the Devil cannot make you do anything either. So the responsibility falls on us. God sends His Holy Spirit to help us, to empower us to stand against the enemy, and to walk away from sin, and to seek God and His truth in all things. Satan wants to distract us, even more he wants to steal, kill and destroy all hope and especially our relationship with God. God gives us weapons, for defense and offense. We must watch and pray everyday as we battle against the evil that is in our world. 

James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

(Then notice down in Ephesians 6:18, the armor is tied together with prayer) 

18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit….

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Temptation-in this instance has to do with the trials or testing, not just enticement to sin. Gods word is clear, God is good and set apart, HE is Holy and will not lead us into temptation. 

James 1:13-14 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 

If this is the case then why would we even bother praying this? I would say it’s better to be proactive and not reactive on a daily basis, watching for the schemes of the devil and fighting with the power that God gives us. Satan hates God and he hates His creation, if we can mature and stand strong it puts the Devil in his place. For us to be genuinely free, we must make the choice between good and evil, it cannot be made for us. As it is pointed out in James 1, trials bring strength, and we get closer to God through prayer and scripture. If we can resist temptation it shows that we are getting stronger in our walk with the Lord, we are maturing. It doesn’t mean that we wont struggle or fall, but the time we do sin will get less and less. We need to daily surrender and ask that God helps us, He will never leave or forsake us, He will protect us from the evil one, he will protect, deliver and always forgive us. 

Prayed for you all today!  

Much Love and Blessings, Pastor Scott