Deliver Us

In the final line of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

That is not a prayer for God to help us become strong enough to defeat evil on our own. It is a prayer that keeps us close to the One who already has.

We all know what it is to feel pulled, pressured, tempted, or worn down. Some battles are obvious. Others are quiet and hidden: bitterness, fear, pride, despair, resentment, distraction, or the slow drift of a heart that has stopped paying attention.

So Jesus gives us words to pray before the battle begins. “Lord, do not let me wander where I do not need to go. Guard my heart. Guide my steps. Keep me near You.”

The Christian life is not lived by pretending we are stronger than we are. It is lived by staying close to Christ, trusting His mercy, and depending on His power one day at a time.

This week, pray those words slowly: “Deliver us from evil.” Then remember: our hope is not in our grip on God, but in His grip on us.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Jon