Watchman: Daily Devotional,“Do Not Lead Us Into Temptation, but Deliver Us From Evil” (Matt. 6:13). Don’t Let Your Trials Turn Into Temptations

When we hear the English word temptation, we can also think of an opportunity to resist and overcome evil. In Matthew 6:13, the word "temptation" can refer to a trial that God allows to strengthen your faith or a temptation that Satan or your flesh presents to lead you to sin. Great! It's good to know that both translations are valid.

In Matthew 6:13, "temptation" seems to refer to trials. Even though we are aware that God uses trials for our benefit, it is still advisable to pray that He won't let us get stuck in a trial that develops into an overwhelming temptation. That might occur if we aren't equipped or have a weak spiritual foundation.

God will never put you through more trials than you can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13), but overcoming temptation calls for both divine help and spiritual fortitude. One defense against relying on your own strength and ignoring God's power is to pray for God to deliver you from trials that might overpower you.

God put Joseph to the test by allowing him to be wrongly accused by an adulterous woman, sold into slavery by his brothers, and wrongfully imprisoned by a jealous husband. But Joseph was aware that God was watching over him. In light of this, he was able to tell his brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to preserve many people" (Genesis 50:20). Joseph was prepared for the exam, which he aced with flying colors!

As the devil tempts people, Jesus himself is led into the wilderness by the Spirit (Matthew 4:1). Satan wanted to tempt him in order to destroy his virtue, while God wanted to test him to demonstrate it. Jesus achieved success as well.

Do not allow temptations to arise during times of trial. Recognize God's intentions and look to Him for strength. Take a cue from those who have successfully faced similar adversity. Rest assured that God is in charge and is shaping your character and teaching you greater dependence on Him through each trial.
Prayer suggestions

God's trials are for your good, so thank Him for them.
Ask Him to make it easier for you to see how He uses your difficulties to build you up and exalt Himself.

For more research.
Read Matthew 26:41, Ephesians 6:10–18, James 4:7, and Psalm 119:11. What lessons about resisting temptation do those verses impart to you?

Prayer:

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,¹⁰your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹Give us today our daily bread.¹²And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³And lead us not into temptation,^[a] but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’

¹⁴For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Learn More

The Great Tribulation

It is our belief that the Great Tribulation referred to in the New Testament Book of Revelation (chapters 6-11) is unfolding before our eyes. In the near future, we will devote the "Tribulation" tab on our "Trending" menu to this emerging reality. As people continue to unplug from mainstream media, our commitment is to present the truth and encourage our audience to understand current events from a Biblical perspective. Click here to begin the journey.

The Watchman

In the Bible, the Watchman is responsible for keeping watch and warning others of potential danger or impending judgment. The role is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 33:6, God says to the prophet Ezekiel, "But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand." Click here to begin the journey.