God's Holiness Is Greater

Matthew 6:13(NIV)
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one

We've got to day five, and we haven’t even got past the first verse! Let's move on. The final point I want to make is that for us to absorb something of how great God is, we must believe that… God's holiness is greater than the devil's temptation. 

'Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.' The devil will try to take our eyes off Jesus and onto ourselves, and that's when fear will set in. 

I want you to think about a positive experience you’ve had in your life but also a negative one.

I suggest that both our negative and positive experiences in life can involve a test from God and a temptation from Satan. 

God is always in control. FULL STOP. But we need to be aware of what temptation is in our lives and what is a test from God.

When you have a positive experience: 

• If you focused on God in that circumstance, you would give him praise and thanks, recognising who is the source of this blessing you've received.

• but the temptation from Satan in that experience would be for you to take the credit for it, idolise it, take it as your right and not thank God for it. 

When you have a negative experience:

• If you focused on God in that circumstance, you would trust his goodness and his wisdom in it, knowing he always has a rescue plan. 

• but the temptation from Satan would be for you to blame God and turn from him. 

The prayer 'lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil' is a prayer that in every test, whether positive or negative, we ask that God would deliver us from anything that would harm our souls. It's a prayer that leaves no doubt that he is a good father.

Prayer - Lord, thank you for being a good father. Help me to see you in all situations and trust you with all that I am.