<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scripture: Matthew 6:13 <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But deliver us from the evil one.”<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Jesus teaches us to pray, “deliver us from the evil one,” He names a reality we cannot ignore: evil is real.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bible describes the enemy as a deceiver, an accuser, and one who seeks to rob, kill, and destroy. Evil is personal, intentional, and destructive.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But this prayer is not spoken from fear. It is spoken from confidence in God’s victory.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus does not teach us to panic about evil. He teaches us to pray. Disciples live alert, but not anxious. We are aware of opposition, but anchored in hope.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This matters because we can fall into two mistakes. We can ignore evil and pretend there is no spiritual battle. Or we can become so focused on evil that fear dominates our thinking. Jesus shows us a better way.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He names the enemy, but He stays focused on the Father. He recognises opposition, but He remains faithful to His mission.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To pray for deliverance is to admit we need God’s protection. We cannot defeat evil in our own strength. But we do not pray as helpless people. We pray as people who belong to the victorious Christ.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, bring your fears and pressures to the Father. Evil is real, but it is not ultimate. Jesus is Lord.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reflection questions:<ol style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do I tend to ignore evil or become overly fearful of it?</li><li aria-level="1" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can I live alert, but not anxious, as a follower of Jesus?</li></ol><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prayer: <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Father, deliver me from the evil one and keep my heart anchored in Your victory. Help me stay alert without fear and faithful without anxiety. Amen.

Jesus does not teach us to panic about evil. He teaches us to pray. Disciples live alert, but not anxious. We are aware of opposition, but anchored in hope.

1.Evil Is Real, but Not Ultimate

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1.Evil Is Real, but Not Ultimate

1.Evil Is Real, but Not Ultimate

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