Matthew 6:9-11 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven Hallowed be Your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
The last but not the least of the part-2 of the template of prayer is an appeal to make us wiser than our enemies; lead us not into temptation. It is a prayer to become “spiritually smart”. It is a prayer to become discerning and not judgemental; agile but not arrogant; smart yet not sarcastic. It is a prayer to open our spiritual eyes to see the traps and tricks of the evil one and escape the snares of the devil. This is a prayer of prudence. “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished” (Proverbs 27:12).
This is also a prayer for wisdom to react to temptations swiftly and smartly. Our initial response to a thought will either lure us into the temptation or sever the sensation to sin. The only access that demons have on a believer is our thoughts/mind. It is through our thoughts that they get a footing into the affairs of our life. They are on duty 24/7 to shoot ugly, unwholesome or unforgiving thoughts at us. Our prayer to keep us from temptation will make us mentally alert to rebuff the tempting thoughts. If we entertain the thought for more than a second, we will be sucked into sin like sinking sand.
Template Part-2:
1. Smart-Reactions: This prayer will help us to react quickly, smartly and spiritually. When you are tempted to click on a website or make a silly/cynical comment on FB/instagram, we will have the tenacity to say ‘no’.
2. Smart-Actions: The smart reactions must be followed by smart actions. Saying ‘no’ is the first response but putting away the devices is the second step to defeat temptation.
3. Smart-Decisions: Smart reactions and actions must be followed by smart and resolute decisions not to linger in places that would lead us into temptation.
A simple prayer ‘lead me not into temptation’ will make our reactions, actions and decisions spiritually smart.
Prayer: Jesus my Deliverer, deliver me from temptation and make me spiritual vigilant. Amen.
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