_______________________________________

“Deliver us from evil.” Surely, Jesus is inviting us to pray for deliverance from the evil in this world – from the schemes of evil, wicked people, evil spiritual forces, and the tragedies so common to our broken world. That is not outside the realm of His purview nor off limits for us to seek a reprieve.

Jesus said in this world we will suffer (John 16:33). James confirms that we will face trials of many kinds (James 1:2-4), and Paul acknowledges that it is not new for God’s people to face death all day long (Romans 8:36). Such things are not the end of us nor of His good done in and through our lives. They are simply the arena into which His light emanates.

To live and love like Jesus is to participate in His work of lighting up the darkness. Jesus knows that the greatest hindrance to our thriving and His glory shining through us into this dark world is not anything external to us but within us: our very hearts and the evil that flows within us.

The depravity of our hearts is our greatest foe. No one can corral or correct this great evil within except our Jesus. The prayer of Matthew 6:12 is one of humility. Humility will curtail our depravity.

Our great hope and constant appeal is that He will finish what He started. And for those to whom salvation has come, the transformative work has begun. Let us do everything we can to clear the path for God to have His way with our hearts.

Prayer: Lord, search my heart and reveal any offensiveness within me (Psalm 139:23-24). Create a pure heart in me and transform me to live and love like you from the deepest recesses of my being.

_____________________________________