In the book "Deliverance" and the movie of the same name,
four city dwellers embark on a river-rafting tour that pits them against hostile elements,
randy natives and each other. The message: Each person must exorcise his personal demons
to truly live.
Jesus says much of the same thing in this passage. All of us have a
personal demon: the evil one. And we should ask for God's help in thwarting him.
Yet we rarely name the name when it comes to our battles with
pornography. How often we pray like psychologists ("Deliver me from my
environment"). Or like hyper-Calvinists ("Deliver me from my wicked, worm-like
self"). Why not ask God to help us defeat the enemy who wants to destroy us?
While not trying to spot the evil one under every bush, believers
should recognize that our adversary is at least partially to blame for our struggles. Pray
that God will help you resist the advances of the enemy. And live.