... and lead us not into temptation, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever, Amen
In the Lord's prayer, Jesus gives us a template of the important issues we should pray to God about.
Temptations can come in many forms. Often they are when we are trying to fool ourselves. There's no super-natural being whispering in our ear. The account of Jesus being led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil, does not mean some special immortal creature came to test him. Jesus was 'tempted like as we are, yet without sin'. Do we encounter some scaled, pitch-fork wielding creature each time we are tempted? This readiness to blame someone else for our failings is a childish habit we must put behind us.
In some ways temptations would be a lot easier if this was the case. It would make it nice and simple, black and white. (and I'd like to hit the creature over the head with its own pitch-fork). Unfortunately temptations are a form of self-disillusionment. We are trying to persuade ourselves to do something we know is wrong, but to excuse ourselves in a way in which seems reasonable, sensible (but still wrong).
Philosophies like 'everyone else does it' and 'what harm would it do' may fit in with the majority. But as I mentioned to someone doing political canvassing, “just because it was the majority, doesn't mean it's right”. Sodom and Gomorrah had a majority, and we know what God did to that.
The ultimate question is "what would Jesus do?" We have a record of his life, the decisions he made and what he did, and as we've already mentioned, he got 100% is his examination of life.
James has these words "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."
Unfortunately not going with the flow can lead to many trials. It can make life difficult if we let it. In the list of the faithful in Hebrews 11 we read “some had trial of cruel mockings”. The world has changed slightly, from the stocks and pillary to verbal teasing, but the result is similar. Often we do get teased and ridiculed, but just like the village bully they often go for the easy targets and those who won't answer for themselves. If always found that a confident answer stops any idea of mocking.
But I'm not sure how long this state of affairs will last. We are now living in the last days. Affairs in the Middle East are getting more complicated, and we pray that they won't continue for long before Jesus comes back.
The trials mentioned in Hebrews and Peter don't sound very nice at all, but it does have these words “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
"But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
So being a Christian is not some soft option. The trials and temptations we have now are spiritual body building, so we will be ready to compete in that race for the imperishable crown.