Suddenly Unemployed – Take It to the Lord in PrayerSýnishorn

Day 6: Pray for Daily Protection

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Here we pray for God’s protection, especially from the evil one—the source of evil. Jesus made it clear that there’s an enemy, the devil, Satan. Jesus said this enemy came to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). As Scripture reveals, this enemy will stop at nothing to trip us up in his attempt to rob God of the glory due Him (see Job 1-2, for example).

Take the apostle Peter, for example. Toward the end of Jesus’ ministry, He warned Peter that the devil had “demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,” but that He had interceded on Peter’s behalf. Jesus prayed that Peter would resolve to stand firm in his faith. Knowing the future, fully aware that Peter would deny Him three times (Mark 14:66-72), Jesus added this to His prayer for Peter: that God would use him to restore others who experience such a sifting in their own lives (Luke 22:31-34). 

It is Peter, moved by the Holy Spirit, who left Jesus’ followers with these heartfelt words, which he learned from personal experience: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Especially amid the repercussions of job loss—if we’re angry, tired, lonely, stressed—we can find ourselves vulnerable to be tempted by the evil one. If he had the gall to tempt Jesus in the wilderness when he saw an opportune time after Jesus’ 40-day fast (Matthew 4:1-11), he will do the same to Jesus’ followers. Don’t give him an inch; he wants a “foothold” (Ephesians 4:27)!

Prayer Prompts:

• Make it a daily habit to get into God’s Word, the Bible, and pray on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). 
• Especially as you consider Peter’s example, be prayerful in light of the spiritual battle.
• Ask God to direct you to family and friends who might help you to be accountable before Him especially during this period when you may have “extra time on your hands.”