Luther
in the Catechism teaches in the sixth petition, “Lead us not into temptation.”
God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so
that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead
us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are
attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the
victory.[1]
As
Christians, we pray that our Father would keep us strong in His Word, since our
faith is under constant threat. Thus, we pray that our faith in and love for
Jesus would not grow cold with unbelief; that we would stay alert and on guard
against threats to our faith and that our Father would guard us against all
sins that come from Satan, the world, and our sinful flesh.
Luther
concludes in the Large Catechism, “There is no help or comfort except to run
here, take hold of the Lord’s Prayer and speak to God from the heart like this:
‘Dear Father, You have asked me to pray. Don’t let me fall because of
temptations.’” (LC III 110)
[1] Explanation to the Sixth Petition, Luther’s Small Catechism, © 2017 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis
[2] A collect in times of temptation, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis
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