What we ask God to help us avoid in prayer, we should actively avoid in life. Listen carefully: we must stay away from temptation. Walk so carefully in the path of obedience that you never give the devil an invitation to tempt you.

We are not to enter the thicket in search of the lion. Do you hear me? That kind of presumption could cost you dearly. The lion may cross your path. He may leap at you from the undergrowth. But you have no business hunting him down. Even if you win that fight, it will leave you bloodied and exhausted. So pray, Christian, that you might be spared the encounter altogether. Our Savior knew what temptation felt like, and he urgently warned his disciples: "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."

But here is the hard truth—no matter what we do, we will be tempted. That's why the prayer continues: "deliver us from evil." God had one Son without sin, but he has no son without temptation. Just as surely as sparks fly upward, just as surely as trouble finds every human being, temptation will find every Christian.

So we must always be on guard against Satan. Like a thief, he gives no warning before he strikes. Believers who have walked this road before know there are certain seasons when attacks are most likely. Just as winter brings its bitter winds, certain times bring increased spiritual danger. The wise Christian doubles their guard when they sense danger approaching. And often, that preparation is what keeps the danger at bay.

Prevention beats cure every time! Better to be so well armed that the devil thinks twice before attacking than to endure the battle, even if you emerge victorious. So pray tonight—first, that you may not be led into temptation. And second, that when temptation does come, you will be delivered from the evil one.