Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties. — Psalm 141:4
As many of us do, I recall growing up reciting the Lord’s Prayer. While it was given as a model for prayer, it has long been used to teach kids the good habit of prayer. There is one key point in the Lord’s Prayer that has always caught my attention. It’s when it says, “Lead us not into temptation.”
Temptation is powerful enough that Jesus knew it must be called out specifically. But the concept of temptation was nothing new. In fact, many of Jesus’ followers knew a lot about temptation. So did David. We all know stories about his life and how he faced temptations. More than just facing them, he also gave in to them many times.
David obviously learned a lot about temptation in his life, however. This is especially true of the first phrase of this verse in Psalm 141, which has nearly the same meaning as the statement in the Lord’s Prayer. The idea is that God would help him so that he was not placed in circumstances of temptation.
It can be easy to talk about fleeing temptation when not facing it. Many Christians will boldly proclaim they can reject temptations when they are not facing them. But let times get challenging, let the circumstances become difficult, and it can be easy to give in. That’s why it is important to protect yourself from situations of temptation.
Perhaps you find yourself in those moments in your life. Moments when you think the smallest temptation will not matter. If you give in just once, no one will ever know. The truth is that if you give in once, it becomes easier. The temptations grow, and soon, you will find your heart away from God.
Instead of giving in to the temptations, say the same prayer as David today. Ask God to help protect you from situations where you may be tempted. Ask Him to help keep your heart from the places where you may be weakest. It won’t remove temptation from your life but it can help you overcome those where you are most susceptible.
Across the world, Christians need the encouragement and strength that only God’s word can provide. We are focused on helping Christians find encouragement, develop stronger relationships with God, and help non-Christians accept Jesus Christ as Savior. Another Well Ministries is a non-profit ministry that relies on donations to continue its work. You can find out more about us and ways to support us here.
If you enjoy our devotionals, subscribe for free to receive them daily in your email!