4 - LORD'S PRAYER - the Servant's PetitionsSample

10 – Weak Points

“And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13, NIV)

Many temptations spring from the selfishness that controls us, from the secret desires only we know, from our emotions or imagined pleasures. Yet they can also arise through our intellect and reasoning. These are the areas where we are most often tested—our well-known “weak spots.”

Temptations may appear suddenly in our lives, minds, and hearts. But temptation itself is not the same as defeat—it is, in fact, an opportunity for victory and growth. We must remain watchful, because temptation carries the real danger of falling—and once we fall, it is all too easy to be quickly dominated.

Knowing our weaknesses in this battle, Jesus teaches us to ask the Father for strength—the strength that enables us to overcome. We must understand that temptation, in itself, is not an evil experience; it can be part of the Father’s plan to form people of strong character—men and women who become more like Jesus Christ. As Scripture says:
“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:14–16, NIV)

When God created us with free will, He knew we would face daily choices between good and evil. Our identity as children of God is shaped by these very choices—made in the midst of life’s constant testing grounds.

We must remain alert to these trials by fire. Under the Spirit’s guidance, they can help us grow—or, if neglected, they can mark the beginning of a fall that leads us into bondage.