Deliver us from evil

Music: The Second movement of Torelli’s trumpet Concerto in D (Etienne), plus an improvisation on the theme. Musicians: Philippa Barton, Helen Rees, Julian Chan, Jo Garcia, (strings) James Horsfall (keyboard) Solzhenitsyn wrote, ‘The line dividing good and evil cuts through the hearts of every human being, and which of us is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?’ Make us willing to face the things we need to face. Help us to overcome evil not just by avoiding infringing specific laws, but by being diligent in seeking You. May no pressures from within or without blunt our zeal for You. Lord, deliver us from evil. Confound confusion and scatter all the powers that are arrayed against us. Increase the flow of trust and the spirit of prayer within our hearts. “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me," declares the Lord. When I see someone who is so much more obviously blessed and gifted than I am, help me not to feel rejected or passed over. Keep me from the sharp pangs of jealousy and envy. I hand these feelings to You now. Lord, deliver us from the power of envy and rejection. Release my heart to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice. Help us not to be gullible in the face of evil, Lord, but to recognise it clearly for what it is – even if that means admitting that we ourselves have been at fault. Help us to avoid excuses and denials which hinder Your work of truth. Lord, deliver us from evil. May humility, truth and love safeguard us from the evil one. We pray for those whose days are spent in close proximity to scheming people and corrupt and evil systems. Remind and reassure them that their present condition will not last for ever, that You will find a way to break the chains that bind them and set them free. In their loneliness, draw near. Keep them from inner confusion and alienation. Straighten out our muddled longings, Lord – especially those which would make us quest after things which in reality would do us a great deal of harm. Cleanse our inmost desires. Help us to love what You love and to hate the ways by which evil appeals to our senses.