Have Him Lead You from Sin

I’m convinced that one of the most beneficial sentences given us to pray is this one given to us by Jesus at the conclusion of The Lord’s Prayer… It reads:

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

What a wonder! Here we have open invitation from the Son of God, to ask the Father, to employ all his unbounded power, and limitless authority, and steadfast love toward the steering of our hearts, and turning of our feet, away — not just from the doing of sin — but even the moments in which sin becomes a consideration. 

“Lead us not into temptation,” says, “God, I don’t wish to come into contact with the allures of evil this day, not in my world, not in my mind, and so I ask you: stand, as my shield, between me and the appeals of darkness lest I give way to them.”

Note the kindness of Jesus. He knows how we, in our flesh, are often weak and susceptible to godless allures. And so he welcomes us to call on him to keep us from them.

Prayer of Confession

Father, we recognize this morning that we never confess a sin which you were not willing to help us fight. Though we are often faithless, you are the faithful one, and you promise to not let us be tempted beyond our ability. You ever stand ready to help us, guard us, and protect us. Far-too-infrequently, we ask you to do so. Though you are our champion who offers us his shield, in our foolishness, we often go it alone — thinking ourselves stronger, and temptation weaker, than our history has proven. Forgive us for giving in to sin. Forgive us for not asking you to guard us from sin. And allow us to bring before you now the many other ways we‘ve sinned against you this week, in this moment of silent confession…