“But deliver us from the evil one,” or “Save us from the evil one.”
There is a tendency for us to think of sin, self, and Satan as being more or less widely separated from each other. In fact, the three are so closely intertwined that they cannot be readily divorced from each other. Because of this, Christ taught us to pray emphatically, “Deliver us from the evil one.”
It is possible to sense the presence and power of God who can save us from Satan and sin and our own self wills. Our Father does not want to see us succumb to temptation. He does not want to see us fall. He wants us, as His maturing children, to grow up in strength so we can walk with Him in the beauty of a strong, intimate companionship. We need to remind ourselves that no matter how often or hard we fall, He is there, waiting to pick us up and restore us.
There are three definite, simple, and positive ways by which our heavenly Father delivers us from the evil one.
- He is always there. He is always available. It often helps to address Him aloud. “Oh Father, this is a bit beyond me. I can’t cope with it. You can!”
- “Flee these evil things” (1 Timothy 6:11). All of us know full well the areas of our lives where we are most liable to succumb to evil. We know the people that more readily influence us to do, say, or think evil. Let’s not expose ourselves unnecessarily to evil situations, or wrong companions or wicked suggestions.
- Battle it. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7). If we wish to be armed against the evil one, we must equip ourselves with God’s Word. Through reading it daily, thinking about it, and committing it to memory, we become fit to fight.
When we encounter evil, we need not feel apprehensive. Our confidence lies, not in ourselves, not in our ability to counteract evil, but rather in the character and strength of our Father who delivers us.
An excerpt from A Layman Looks at the Lord’s Prayer by W. Phillip Keller
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