If you haven’t had a chance yet, please read Day 28, “Deliver Us from the Evil One” in Why Pray?...then come on back here. Thanks!
I love the Lord’s Prayer! What a privilege to get to pray the same words Jesus prayed to Our Father! Thing is, at the very end of the Lord’s Prayer there is a wee little sentence that so many of us tend to overlook…as if maybe it isn’t really that important:
“…but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6: 13b
Jesus directly addressed spiritual warfare in many places in the Bible so it is obviously something that requires our attention. Satan is not only real, he desperately wants to separate us from God. UGH! He does it by any means necessary, too. He lies, he cheats, he steals…he plays rough and dirty.
(Speaking to some Jews who didn’t understand Jesus’ comments) “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8: 44
Satan even tried to bring Jesus to His knees before him:
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’”Matthew 4: 8-9
Thankfully we have been given a way to rebuke Satan! Jesus has given us enormous authority to send the devil away from us IN JESUS NAME. When you are being attacked by evil, Satan MUST flee when we rebuke him by the power of Jesus. Friends, the enemy cannot stand in Jesus’ presence! Praise God for His goodness and mercy!
I saw a rubber bracelet in a Christian bookstore a few years ago that said, “A.S.A.P. When life gets tough, Always Say A Prayer”. What a great reminder of the power of prayer and our need to connect with our Dad through prayer! He even cares for us so much that He gave us a “blue print” for communicating with Him (Matthew 6: 9-13 is where Jesus’ teaches The Lord’s Prayer). What Love!
Do you ever think about spiritual warfare? Has it ever affected your life or the lives of your loved ones? How about praying for others in Jesus’ Name – is it just “for good measure” or does Satan really have to flee in the presence of our Lord? Let’s discuss!
Blessings, Jennifer