Pastor's Desk
April 2 , 2006
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to acknowledge that we are living in a spiritual environment that will test us. There are trials, tests and temptations which we face in our lives. We have an enemy who wants us to give in to the temptations, fail these tests and be overwhelmed by the trials. Our heavenly Father, on the other hand wants us to be victorious. Victory over temptation is directly related to our prayer life. For example, while Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane on the night before he was crucified, he said to his disciples: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
We have all the resources we need to overcome temptation. God’s word promises: “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) “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4)
However, the means by which we can access those resources is an ongoing prayer life. Paul includes prayer as a part of the armor of God: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand….And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Ephesians 6:11-13, 18) Let us be diligent to pray so that we will overcome anything and everything the enemy of our soul throws at us.
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“And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
This page was last updated on Friday, March 31, 2006