There are some days that you simply know evil is in our way, in the middle of everything good and just plain loathed. I want to see no evil, hear no evil and certainly speak no evil. As I pray the Lord’s Prayer, I am reminded that He has the power to deliver us from evil. I have the power to pray with expectation of this deliverance.
Chronic illness and pain create enough darkness. Adding trauma can take it to a whole new level. And then there is God!! We have a choice to live above our circumstances, not under our circumstances. This particular trial of illness and trauma challanges us to stay focused on truth.
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:18 NIV
God’s word tells us that we have control and influence over our minds.
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” ~ Deuteronomy 11:18 NIV
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” ~ Romans 8:5-6 NIV
Through the last couple years of my chronic illness I have repeated the Lord’s Prayer numerous times a day. This week my focus has been on “deliver us from evil.” Evil has no business in my life, in my home, and especially not in my mind. Trauma is a truth, a fact and a tragedy. But my mind does not have to allow the evil that tries to come with trauma.
Prayer – Matthew 6:5-13
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.Matthew 6:13 Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Donations accepted to serve others on their chronic illness journey. Maribeth Baxter, HHC provides voluntary certified health coaching services to the financially limited during their time of crisis.