A Trinity of Tempters

O Lord God, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Even though temptations from the world, the flesh, and the devil come at us every day, God provides an escape from every one of them (1 Corinthians 10:13). Although we know the Bible’s promise, the world, the flesh, and the devil are mighty foes. Powered by a buffet of sights, sounds, and attractions, this trinity of tempters seduce us to bite the apple regardless of the cost. Add to that the fact that our flesh is weak, so that the things we don’t want to do we do, and the things we want to do, we don’t do.

Jesus understood the powerful lure of the world, the flesh, and the devil, so he encourages us to stand firm because he overcame them.

God is for us, and his grace is sufficient in every situation (2 Corinthians 12:9). Through his Word we overcome every temptation (Matthew 4:1–11), and with his armor, we defeat every scheme of the world, the flesh, and the devil (Ephesians 6:10–18). God’s promise is as relevant today as it was when Paul first penned it: “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it” (The Message).

The Lord’s peace be with you.