Lead us not into temptation. Luke 11:4.

What can this statement mean? Certainly all of us would prefer to have temptation removed from us. It would make life much easier for us if we could pray to this effect and have our prayers answered. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life" (James 1:12).

Temptation comes from two sources: the powers of evil outside of us and the power of the sinful nature inside of us. God tempts no man (see verses 13, 14). If we were not so weak and blind, temptations would lose their power. What does Christ mean when He teaches us to pray that God will not lead us into temptation? God has no pleasure in placing temptations in our pathway. However, God does bring His people, as He did Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, and even Jesus Himself, into circumstances both fitted and designed to test the strength of their faith and devotion.

We must face honestly those things that can be a real snare to us. We cannot prevent the world and the devil from tempting us. But God will strengthen us to meet those situations and circumstances that would otherwise overcome us in the areas of our weaknesses. Peter needed to ask God to do this, but he did not. Of his own accord he went into the hall of the high priest at the trial of Jesus. He was drawn into the atmosphere of temptation, turned coward, and denied his Lord. He should never have gone there.

A man with weak lungs, susceptible to lung disease, should not live in a cold, icy climate or engage in work that exaggerates his lung problem.

If you are greedy and have a serious weakness for money, you should stay clear of those "counting houses" where money is all-important. If you have exaggerated passions, then you should not go to those places or be found in that company that excites those passions. You should not read that kind of material or look at television programs that arouse the imagination. You should ask God to keep you from those positions that can only lead to your own destruction.