Step 7: “Lead Us Not Into Temptation But Deliver Us From Evil. For Thine Is The Kingdom, And The Power, And The Glory, Forever” - Surrender and Acknowledgment
Understanding “Lead Us Not Into Temptation”
The seventh step of the Lord’s Prayer has caused confusion for many.
This clause in the Lord’s Prayer has probably caused more difficulty than any other part of it. There are many sincere people who found this to be a veritable stumbling block. They feel that God could not lead anyone into temptation or into evil in any circumstances, so these words do not ring true.
This step actually reflects the increased sensitivity that comes with spiritual growth. When you or I or anyone becomes involved in the spiritual life, when you begin to grow and to change, you become more sensitive to things, don’t you, to the feelings of other persons and to where you are inside yourself.
This increased sensitivity means we can no longer get away with behavior that once seemed acceptable. Have you not discovered that you could get away with things a year ago that you cannot possibly get away with today? A year ago you could awaken any morning… with a bad attitude toward life and hang on to it and cling to it perhaps and believe in it. It didn’t seem to make a whole lot of difference. Try it now. See what happens.
Spiritual Growth Brings Higher Standards
Use the analogy of a teacher-student relationship to explain why more is expected of us as we grow spiritually. A teacher who has an outstanding student requires more of that student than of any other person in the class. You expect more and you require more because that student is capable of giving more and you will not let them settle for less than they can give.
Similarly, as we progress spiritually, more is required of us. Life requires more of us who have been given more. More of us who have a deeper wealth of understanding. More is required. And I can tell you something else. Next month or next year, even more will be required of you.
What We’re Really Asking
When we pray “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” we’re actually asking that God, stay on top of me. Keep reminding me. Cause me to be aware of this great reality. Keep me from falling short. Keep me from trying to settle for less than what I should settle for. Let me not be tempted to fall short of what I know to be the truth. Deliver me from that evil that I would impose upon myself.
The “evil” referred to here is not some external force, but falling short of our spiritual potential. Evil meaning falling short of my potential. I’m a student. I know how the system works. Now help me to practice it. I have the ability to achieve great heights. Now cause me to practice.
“For Thine Is The Kingdom, And The Power, And The Glory, Forever”
The prayer concludes with an acknowledgment of God as the source of all. This is a wonderful short expression of a general truth. It sums up the essential fact of the omnipresence, the omniscience and the omnipotence of God. It means that I know that we know that God is indeed all in all.
This final statement represents complete surrender and recognition of divine presence in all things. The power that permits me to move these fingers is your power that is in me. The intelligence that I use that caused me to reach and to touch and to be able to write or to perceive or to understand or to experience is but your power. I recognize you in all things. I recognize you as the source of my good but I also recognize you in the world around me.
Seeing God in Everything
This final step involves recognizing divine presence in all of life. It is you I see in my fellows. Your presence is everywhere. It is you who wrote the music that touches my soul. Oh yes, the composer’s name is well known but it was you that wrote it. But it is you who plays it. Yes, the violinist and the pianist who express so beautifully that score are but expressions of you. And so when I hear that music, I’m hearing you and it is you, my very spirit that feels that music. You are the life of my life and there that I look I behold you and you are in and all around and with me.
The Completion of the Transformation
The story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, is about noting that spiritual transformation comes from understanding our true nature. Jonathan spoke of very simple things. That it is right for a gull to fly. That freedom is the very nature of his being. That whatever stands against that freedom must be set aside, be it ritual or superstition or limitation in any form or even religion.
Similarly, Jesus understood who he was and practiced accordingly. Jesus understood who he really was and practiced the principles in all of his affairs, and the result was amazing and astonishing.
The Implication for Our Lives
When we pray “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever,” we are:
- Asking for help to live up to our highest potential
- Recognizing that as we grow spiritually, more will be expected of us
- Surrendering completely to divine wisdom and love
- Acknowledging God as the source of all power, wisdom, and love
- Seeing divine presence in all people and all things
- Committing to practice spiritual principles in all our affairs
That is the kingdom, the power, the glory forever.
This final step completes our journey through the seven steps of the Lord’s Prayer, taking us from establishing our relationship with God to complete surrender and recognition of divine presence in all aspects of life.