Tornado
warnings across the Midwest send people
scurrying to their basements. When Peter
warns that “Your opponent, the devil,
prowls around like a roaring lion seeking
someone to devour,” (1Pet5:8), few people
seem to be moved concerning this murderous
enemy. In general, people install alarm
systems on their houses before they ever
pray. You’d do well to do both.
All
Christians have been drafted into a spiritual
war whether they like it or not.
Paul
warned, “Put on the full armor of God
that you will be able to stand firm against
the trickery of the devil,” (Eph 6:11).
To “put on” means we are to choose to
participate in the battle. “Our struggle
is not against flesh and blood, but spiritual
forces of wickedness,” (Eph 6:12). Satan
is scheming on you every day of your life.
Ultimate
fighters have nothing on demonic warfare.
A good trainer can stop the bleeding over
a boxer’s eye, but spiritual wounds can
bleed for years. Many a demon will incite
condemning memories, failures and lethargy
in order to paralyze people from powerful
service.
I
personally believe the majority of Christians
relax on prayer because they really don’t
believe it will matter, or make a difference.
After all, there are so many conferences,
counselors, programs, dollars and statistics
we can use to produce what appears to
be success. Who needs to pray when we
have all that?
We’re
drafted, but so easily distracted. I have
wondered if Satan occasionally blesses
me just to keep me preoccupied.
In
a Nine Inch Nails song, “Hurt,” which
Johnny Cash covered, he sang, “You can
have it all, my empire of dirt.” It’s
hard to hold a Bible when our hands are
full of dirt.
Despite
all the weaknesses, failures and shortcomings,
the church is still the mightiest
force.
Hopefully we’ll begin to pray with unwavering
faith no matter what the circumstances
look like. (See Mark 11:24.) Paul E. Billheimer,
president of the Great Commission Foundation
once said, “Any church without an intelligent,
well‑organized and systematic prayer
program is simply operating a religious
treadmill.”
I
believe deception and distraction are
two of the most powerful weapons Lucifer
uses against the human race. Since he
will not be taking a summer vacation from
hassling you, make sure you include Jesus
Christ in yours. Remember, prayer is where
the action is.
Ephesians
6:18
