I have finally reached the final post in my series on the the Lord's Prayer. Before delving into the heavy topic of evil, here's the whole thing from the beginning from the New American Standard Bible and Bible Gateway website:
Matthew 6:9-13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day [a]our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from [b]evil. [c][For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13&version=NASB
So, the second half of verse 13 teaches us to pray to be delivered from evil or the evil one, depending on the translation. Now is a good a time as any to point out the obvious from the verse- there is evil in the world; but good news- we can be delivered from it.
There is a spiritual world, as well as the physical world around us, and what happens in one affects the other.
Here are some of the things that I pray when I get to this portion of the template.
First, I was taught to pray for a hedge of protection. Remember the names of God? He is our refuge, fortress, and He sends angels to watch over us.
Second, He describes the tools we can use, given to us by Him- The Full Armor of God:
Ephesians 6: 12-17
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
For all of these gift I am grateful. Amen.