Always On Guard

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    We are coming to the final phrases of the prayer that we know as "The Lord's Prayer."  A precious gift from Jesus, this model prayer leads our hearts to a place of alignment with the will and heart of our Father God.  Many of us know this precious prayer by heart.  If you don't, I challenge you to commit these four verses to memory.  At times when words fail us, the words of our Savior will direct our spirits to a place of peace, calm and strength through whatever storm we are facing.  

As Jesus closes this His time of instructing us in prayer, He directs us to request deliverance from temptation and evil, or "the evil one (NIV)."  As Pastor Rob reminded us recently, Jesus was tempted by Satan and gave us the perfect example of combatting the attacks of Satan with Scripture. If you missed that message, click here.  Jesus experienced every temptation that would be presented to us. He was sinless in His humanity and yet fully God, allowing Him to be the Perfect Sacrifice for our sin problem.  Oh, what a Savior! 

From Jesus' example and other Scripture we know that we cannot walk through this world of sin without experiencing temptation.  However, Jesus does lead us to request deliverance from temptation and the attacker.  Even in the midst of temptation, if our hearts are directed to God in prayer and we are in communion with the Father, God's grace and strength surround us and we are shielded from the power of the attacker.  Arming ourselves with the Word of God is our defense.  We must be immersed in it.  Our minds must be saturated with it.  These words must be written on our hearts through constant meditation.  

Just as angels ministered to Jesus after His time of temptation in the wilderness, our hearts and faith will be strengthened through these times of trial.  We begin with asking our Father to deliver us from these temptations, even as we are going through them.  Each of us is faced with trials and temptations, but do not be discouraged! We can walk through with confidence in the power of the Word to take down each attack.  Starting with the Lord's Prayer,  keep the Word of God in your mind continually.  Allow God to defend you with His Word.  What a testimony! 

💓Heather Sparks💓


 

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