The disciples of Jesus asked Him to teach them to pray…and so He did.

Near the end of the prayer is an interesting phrase…which the followers of Christ should pray:
(NASB) Luke 11:4 “…And lead us not into temptation.”

Why would Jesus even say this?  God does not tempt anyone.  Never has, never will.
(NASB) James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.”

Why then did Jesus say for His followers to pray in this way?  James goes on to say:
(NASB) James 1:14-15 “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”
(Underlining added)

Jesus said in another place:
(NASB) Matthew 26:41 “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

How often do you pray to not be led into temptation?  Shouldn’t this be our daily prayer?  This prayer which the Lord Jesus taught His disciples to pray is our dependency on the living God for our needs…all our needs.

Followers of Christ Jesus, we are the children of God and we are to be dependent on Him as a child is dependent on their father.  “Our Father which art in heaven.”

We are to give the greatest reverence and respect to God as we worship Him. “Hallowed be thy name.”

We are to be yielding to our God and ask for His kingdom and will be done on earth as it is in heaven. “Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.”

We are to ask for our daily needs to be met. “Give us this day our daily bread.”

And forgiveness, my, my!  An act of continual forgiveness of our sins and we are to be continually forgiving others who sin against us.  “And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.”

And the temptations which we have…we need to be alert to the insidious, subtle, provocative and enticing ways we are tempted to sin.  “And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
[The quotes used from Jesus’ words are from the KJV of the Bible. Luke 11:2-4]

Temptations…how are you now going to pray?