In verses Matthew 6:9 – 13, Jesus provides a model for believers to follow as they pray. He is speaking to crowds that have gathered around Him as He sits and preaches. Jesus is sharing that believers are not to pray to draw attention to ourselves or to just say Christian phrases so we sound good. He exhorts us to pray differently. He then shares what is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus says, “Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread,
¹² and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.”

The tenth and last line of the Lord’s prayer is, “but deliver us from evil.” There is evil all around us, every day. Sometimes evil is easy to identify, sometimes is it more subtle. There are believers who do not pay attention to the fact that we have an enemy and he has an army. The sole goal of that army is to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Once you profess your belief in Jesus as the Son of God, it does not mean that the enemy will be less active in your life or leave you alone altogether. It is the opposite many times.

If you are working for the Lord serving others by giving or praying, the enemy does not want you to advance the Kingdom of God. He hates God and wants to stop you from joining in the work of Jesus. The enemy does not have to try to hurt those people who do not believe in Jesus, the enemy already owns them. They are his to destroy and use however. That is why believers must fight for those who do not know Jesus as their Savior. We must go to war for their souls or they may die before they know Jesus. We are not promised tomorrow or even the next hour. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “. . .now is the time of God’s favor, today is the day of salvation.”

Let’s pray. Father in heaven, thank You for showing us how to pray. Thank You for taking constant care of us and protecting us from evil. Help us to reflect Your love to everyone we meet. In Jesus name we pray, amen.