DELIVER US FROM EVIL

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  02/02/23

There was an elderly woman who was known for always having something good to say about others. One day, two young men thought they would trap her. Surely, she would not have anything good to say about Satan. They walked up to her and said, “Tell us: What do you think about the devil?”

The woman paused and then said, “Well, there is only one thing that I can think of—he is always on the job!”

The woman was right. There is nothing good about Satan. However, we can say that he never wearies of tempting believers.

This is why Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Deliver us from evil,” which really means, “Deliver us from the evil one.” Jesus did just that on the cross. He shattered the power of sin and death. The resurrection is evidence of His victory.

One of Satan’s greatest deceptions is convincing us that pride is not a problem. Ironically, pride was Satan’s own downfall. It was his desire to become like God. In his pride, Satan wanted to take God’s place.

Similarly, though most of us would say that David’s greatest sin was adultery and the murder tied to it, the root of David’s sin goes much deeper. In pride, David considered himself above the law of God.

While other kings were off fighting in battles, David stayed home, becoming lazy and self-serving—the perfect posture for pride to make its mark. Satan waited for the right opportunity, and then he tempted David by appealing to his flesh.

If you have been drawn away from God through pride, believing you know better than God and can live without Him, stop what you are doing and turn back to the Lord. Be sure you are following Christ closely and that all you desire begins and ends with Him.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for delivering me from evil on the cross. Thank You for shattering the power of sin and death. Please hold me close to You. Strengthen me and guide me away from laziness and self-service. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).