But deliver us from evil.

Headlines holler about horrific crimes, terrible injustices, and religious persecution in many parts of the world. Clearly, evil still rears its angry head around the earth.

Perils are plenty. But prayer is powerful. Rather, the One who hears our prayer is all-powerful.

Do we dare danger? Do we stand and sneer at sinister sorts? Or do we take every fear, doubt, and terror to the One who holds the future?

Pat answers don’t work. But God still listens and answers. He still holds our lives in His holy hands. And He calls us to carry our concerns to Him.

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
    so why should I tremble?

(Psalm 27:1, NLT)

In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge;
Let me never be ashamed.
In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
Incline Your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come;
You have given commandment to save me,
For You are my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked,
Out of the grasp of the wrongdoer and ruthless man,
For You are my hope;
O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth. (Psalm 71:1-5, NASB)

What should we say then? Since God is on our side, who can be against us? God did not spare his own Son. He gave him up for us all. Then won’t he also freely give us everything else? (Romans 8:31-32, NIrV)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

(Ephesians 6:12-13, NIV)

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7, NIV)

Sometimes I wish the trumpets would sound right away, heralding the end of the age and the calling of believers to meet the Lord in glory. What a day that will be, beyond all our imaginings.

Still, at the same time, I want to beg the Lord for a bit more time, so those we love can turn to Him as well.

Deliver us from evil, Lord. Deliver us ALL.

Draw us out of ourselves and into Your ever-strong arms of mercy. Pluck those we love from the clutches of evil in all its forms: addiction, deceit, greed, hatred, lust, pride, rage, revenge, and more.

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