Moment of Meditation: Temptation (Matthew 6:13)

Lead not into temptation, Lord,
where our grim foe and all his horde
would vex our souls on every hand.
Help us resist, help us to stand
firm in the faith, a mighty host,
through comfort of the Holy Ghost.
(LSB #766.7)

Temptation

God tempts no one (James 1:13). God is incapable of tempting anyone. God wants everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). Why would He want to make our lives more miserable by tempting us to fall away from His will? He wouldn't.

He strengthens us through His Word so that we might resist the devil's urges to forsake God's will and Word. He gives us faith to believe that He is the true God. He comforts us by the Holy Spirit that we will overcome the battle once and for all on the Last Day. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.

God does not let us suffer beyond our measure but gives a way of escape in every temptation. Our problem is looking for the escape. Many times we're too busy in the midst of temptation to look. Sometimes we find ourselves deeper in the temptation because we're looking too hard for the escape. Resist the temptation and pray for deliverance from every one of them. Amen.