Title: Pray for Protection/Topic: Protection

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 4; 1 Kings 5; 2 Chronicles 2; Psalm 101; 2 Thessalonians 3

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:2, 3
2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Observation: Sometimes things go wrong and the people of the Lord are left questioning why bad things are happening to them. A part of the answer to those questions is contained in these verses. Not everyone has faith. Some men are bent on engaging in wicked activity, and as Paul indicates here, their wicked behavior can affect believers negatively, causing all sorts of problems. That is why he asks the church to pray that they will be delivered from such people.

Application: Sometimes, especially when we have received many blessings from the Lord, we get complacent about praying for God's protection from the evil that is in the world through the choices of wicked men. Paul is asking the Church to be vigilant to pray for protection from those who follow evil ways. We must not forget that we have an enemy, Satan, who inspires men to do wicked things. Paul indicates that if we pray, the Lord is faithful to provide protection.

Prayer: Father, I need to be reminded of this. Help me to be vigilant to pray for the protection of myself, my family and my fellow believers. We need to build a wall, a fortress, of your protection around us. May we leave no “chinks” for the enemy to get through and may we be aware of and take on the responsibility to pray for one another as we ought to. I am sure we all would have many fewer struggles if we were diligent to pray in this manner. Now, Lord, I ask for your protection from all those who are motivated by the enemy of our souls. Deliver us from all the onslaughts of the enemy that we may prosper in all we do, so that your Name will be glorified.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.