By Kim Merz
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
The Lord’s Prayer is the perfect prayer. Did you know that? Through the Lord’s Prayer we are able to speak to God, praising Him, thanking Him, bringing our requests before Him; praying for ourselves and for others, even our enemies. And in the Lord’s Prayer, in the Sixth Petition, Martin Luther tells us in the Small Catechism: “And lead us not into temptation.” What does this mean?
God tempts no one. But we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us, nor mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.
So when you are feeling the pull of temptation and don’t know what to say or ask our Father in Heaven for, pray the Lord’s Prayer. God will hear you and provide your way of escape so that you will be victorious!
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will
be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive
us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.