Temptation: A Cause or Occasion for Enticement

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not let you be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, 

that you may be able to bear it. 

(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)

To entice someone is to "attract artfully or adroitly by arousing hope or desire." (www.m-w.com)

Why should I ask God, the Father, to not lead me into temptation? Especially when I know God does not tempt anyone.  (James 1:13-15) A more accurate translation might be "Do not let us enter into temptation." In essence we are praying, "Prevent me from sinning or show me the way out before I even get tangled in it."

We are enticed by our selfish desires to give in to the temptations of this world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, which beckon us daily. (1 John 2:15-16)

Each of the requests in this prayer have a daily necessity to them. Not only must I ask for daily sustenance, I need forgiveness and protection day by day. 

One of my temptations is to let down my guard by slowly neglecting these requests, until in desperation, I cry out the last petition of the prayer: "Lord, deliver me from evil!"

It is interesting that in some translations the phrase is stated: "Deliver us from the evil one."  
We know the tempter, the devil, does tempt us. He entices us to false hope (believing someone or something else can comfort us outside of God's divine love) or to despair (distrusting the goodness of God), both which arouse in us a selfish desire to numb ourselves to the pain and disappointments of life. 

As much as I need daily bread, I need daily deliverance. Deliverance from myself and from the temptation to believe lies from the enemy of my soul. And so, I must pray daily: "Lord Jesus, deliver me from evil. Fill me with your hope and truth. Amen."

How has God delivered you recently?