Dear friend, today we are going to meditate on II Thessalonians 3:3, which says, “The Lord is faithful and He will strengthen you and will protect and guard you from the evil one.” Paul was asking people to pray for him, for God to deliver him from unreasonable and wicked people. Yes, dear friend, unreasonable and wicked people were troubling him while doing the work of God. Wherever Paul went, there were persecutions. That is why in II Thessalonians 3:5, Paul says, “May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.” To endure difficulties, Paul prays for the Thessalonians, for God to give them the patience of Christ.

For them to fight the battle, they need the love of God. The devil always tries to destroy, kill, and steal our blessings, and the wicked people of this world also make evil plans. That is what Jesus said to Peter. Peter was called Simon, and Jesus said, Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift each one of you like wheat. The devil and the wicked people of this world may try to do evil things against us, but nothing of the evil schemes of satan will come and harm us without the permission of God.

Even then, in the next verse, Jesus said to Simon, I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. When we go through tribulations, many times we feel like we will lose our faith, and that is why Jesus prays for us. Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus always lives to intercede for us. Jesus died, resurrected, and came back alive after three days for our sake, so that we may live. He says, “Because I live, you will also live.” Jesus is always on your side. In John 17, the Lord prays for His disciples, and He prays for you too. He intercedes for you and is the mediator between you and God. You are not fighting the battle alone. God is on your side. He will strengthen you to fight back. The Lord is always faithful. He will protect you and guard you from the evil one.

PRAYER: 
Heavenly Father, I thank You because You are a faithful God and You will never fail. Strengthen me, Lord, when I face unreasonable and wicked people in my life. Please protect me from every wicked scheme of the evil one. Fill my heart with Your love and with the patience of Christ. Thank You, Jesus, for interceding for me in my weakness and during my troubled times that my faith should not fail. I put my complete trust in You. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen.