by David Chadwick
We are wrapping up our journey of learning how to pray. Each day, you have been given a different key to open a new door that you may have never opened before in your prayer life.
This week, we have focused on the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught his disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13. We are going line by line, using what he taught his disciples to teach us.
Here is your last key: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you away from all temptations. To guard your steps. To govern your decision-making. The enemy knows the places that can so easily ensnare you. He wants to ensnare you in his temptations. But Daddy in heaven knows your weakness as well and wants to help you avoid the traps in the first place, before you step near them.
“Evil” here could actually be a direct object: “the evil one.” Meaning Satan. The master manipulator and father of lies, who studies you regularly to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He does lay traps for you to catch you. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you away from the enemy’s traps.
But, should you ever become ensnared, go to the cross. Experience anew the power of the blood of Jesus. Share your freedom in Christ with others. Revelation 12:11 says that through the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony, we conquer the enemy. By speaking and praying in the power of the NAME of Jesus, we regain the power and forgiveness of Daddy. And are set free anew to talk in his love. How the enemy hates it when we do this.
Galatians 5:1 reminds us that Jesus wants us to be free in Christ. And when you pray for his forgiveness and love and grace over your life, every chain is broken!
As you practice each one of these lines from the Lord’s Prayer each day for a week, or perhaps focus on just one each day of the week, you’ll find that you have more than enough to pray for and that you can spend an hour in prayer without even thinking twice!
I pray you walk away from these two weeks more confident in how to pray and with keys to open up spiritual doors into the presence of God.