Today I write about the third of the three enemies in the catechism’s description of “lead us not into temptation” from the Lord’s Prayer; the Devil, the World, and our Sinful Nature.

There is a conflict in each Christians life. His or her human nature is in conflict with God’s will. Paul writes in Romans 8:7, “For the sinful nature is hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws and it never will.” This effect is so obvious to each of us in our own ways. Each of us have wrong desires that we must fight. Paul continues in verse 9 however, “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.” When we become Christian, the Holy Spirit comes at lives in us, which is what makes us want to do God’s will, even though Jesus tells us in Matthew 26:41, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”

But Jesus is strong when we are weak, and he wants us to rely on him to help us overcome our sinful nature and do the right thing. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul says, “But he [Christ] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Dear Lord, as we pray in the Lord’s prayer, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Strengthen us to choose to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance rather that our sinful nature. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.