PRAYER – 5

1 Corinthians 10:13

“You should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:9–13).

Jesus wasn’t suggesting that these lines should be spoken verbatim, word-for-word, by rote memory. Rather, He was compelling us to address our prayers to our Loving Father, our Sovereign King, our Generous Provider, our Merciful Savior, and our Faithful Protector.

“Do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).

Satan, the Devil, our enemy and adversary, “is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He wants “to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

But Jesus is our Faithful Protector. “No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Our Loving Father, our Sovereign King, our Generous Provider, and our Merciful Savior, is

“the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust” (Psalm 91:2).

“We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37–39).

Jesus knew that Satan would do everything within his power to discourage, defeat, divide, and destroy Christ-followers. So, Jesus taught us to pray for a Divine shield of protection. God is the ultimate body-guard. If we’ll ask, He will stand guard over us.

“Lord, today, hide my eyes from smut and slime… guard my heart from pride, bitterness, anxiety… direct my steps away from the enemy’s traps and snares. Protect me. “Do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).