V. Deliver Us

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

–Matthew 6:13

What I love about this verse is its honesty. Jesus is guaranteeing that following Him will not always be easy; there will be temptations and encounters with evil.  However, this verse also unlocks the key to overcoming both.

Jesus tells us to humbly come before our Heavenly Father and ask Him for His help each day.  To invite our mighty God into our daily lives so that we know that He is right there beside us, whatever we may face.  We can live life with great confidence, knowing that if we listen carefully to the Holy Spirit living within us, He will lead us, so that we can make good choices when faced with temptation.  We can also put our faith in the One who defeated all evil on the cross to deliver us, so that we can live in His freedom.

God has an amazing plan for all our lives, He promises to never leave us or forsake us.  If we will only stop trying to live in our strength and instead fully rely on Him, He will see us through. His mercies are new every morning and never fail.

Today, why not take a few minutes to ask God into every part of your day, to relinquish control and place your life in His hands, trusting that as you walk by His Spirit He will give you the strength, grace and wisdom you need.

Prayer for myself – Thank you that you are always near. Help me to draw near to You, particularly when I find myself face to face with anything evil.

Prayer for our church – Ask God for His protection for Lifehouse Church, and our Leaders, as we seek to see His kingdom come in Chesterfield.