Deliver Us from Evil

“… And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
— Luke 11:4 KJV

We should avoid temptation by all means. That is why we pray that God deliver us from evil. We should seek to walk in obedience to God and never invite evil spirits from the devil to tempt us. The scripture says, “Stay alert! Therefore, watch out for your great enemy, Satan, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT). Why would you walk into the brush in search of a lion? By all means, stay away! He could very well pounce on you from the brush. No matter how much of the Bible you know, if you encounter a lion, you will struggle to defend yourself against it.

We should pray fervently that God spares us from any encounter associated with evil and wicked people. Just as Jesus experienced temptation and admonished His disciples to “Pray that you do not enter into temptation,” We too can find strength in prayer. If we are disobedient, we will be tempted. Therefore, we should always pray that God “deliver us from evil.”

Don’t Succumb to Temptation

Satan’s strategy is to exploit our vulnerabilities. He doesn’t adhere to any rules and knows precisely where we are susceptible. He employs three primary tactics: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Understanding these tactics is essential in our struggle against temptation.

He tempts us in the flesh by pointing to our natural desires and suggesting that we meet those desires in our selfish ways. For example, in Genesis 3:6, Satan tempted Eve with her natural passion for food. But he made her think God was withholding something from her. Eve’s desire for food was not wrong. Satan exploited her weakness for food. It became a sin when she gave in to the temptation to disobey God.

As you go about your day, be on high alert for Satan. Like a thief, he gives no warning of his approach. Prevention is always better than a cure. Throughout the day, remain vigilant and pray that you are not tempted. And, if temptation comes, pray that God delivers you from the evil one.

Father God, I commit to obedience to Your word today. I trust in Your guidance and pray that You lead me on the path of righteousness and away from temptation. I pray that you deliver me from evil. Break the chains and loosen the bonds between known and unknown, seen and unseen, familiar and strange, big and small, direct and indirect evil. Surround me with your favor. In Jesus’ name. Amen.