WLC 195: What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

Answer: In the sixth petition (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil1), acknowledging, that the most wise, righteous, and gracious God, for divers holy and just ends, may so order things, that we may be assaulted, foiled, and for a time led captive by temptations2; that Satan3, the world4, and the flesh, are ready powerfully to draw us aside, and ensnare us5; and that we, even after the pardon of our sins, by reason of our corruption6, weakness, and want of watchfulness7, are not only subject to be tempted, and forward to expose ourselves unto temptations8, but also of ourselves unable and unwilling to resist them, to recover out of them, and to improve them9; and worthy to be left under the power of them10: we pray, that God would so overrule the world and all in it11, subdue the flesh12, and restrain Satan13, order all things14, bestow and bless all means of grace15, and quicken us to watchfulness in the use of them, that we and all his people may by his providence be kept from being tempted to sin16; or, if tempted, that by his Spirit we may be powerfully supported and enabled to stand in the hour of temptation17; or when fallen, raised again and recovered out of it18, and have a sanctified use and improvement thereof19: that our sanctification and salvation may be perfected20, Satan trodden under our feet21, and we fully freed from sin, temptation, and all evil, forever.22

  1. Matthew 6:13
  2. 2 Chronicles 32:31
  3. 1 Chronicles 21:1
  4. Luke 21:34; Mark 4:19
  5. James 1:14
  6. Galatians 5:17
  7. Matthew 26:41
  8. Matthew 26:69-72; Galatians 2:11-14; 2 Chronicles 18:3; cf. 2 Chronicles 19:2
  9. Romans 7:23-24; 1 Chronicles 21:1-4; 2 Chronicles 16:7-10
  10. Psalm 81:11-12
  11. John 17:15
  12. Psalm 51:10; Psalm 119:33
  13. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
  14. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
  15. Hebrews 13:20-21
  16. Matthew 26:41; Psalm 19:13
  17. Ephesians 3:14-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Jude 1:24
  18. Psalm 51:12
  19. 1 Peter 5:8-10
  20. 2 Corinthians 13:7,9
  21. Romans 16:20; Zechariah 3:2; Luke 22:31-32
  22. John 17:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:23

For further study see:

  1. WSC 106: What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

 

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