Eternal Excuses

Years ago in my young Christian walk, I read a book on prayer.  (I would like to give the author credit but cannot remember who it is.)  I remember very little about the book but one statement has blasted my memory multiple times a year: "Satan will give you an excuse for every day for the rest of your life to keep you from praying."  He would rather you read the Word, listen to preaching or serve in the church but he does not want you to pray.  He knows the battle is won through prayer.

All this came to my mind yesterday as I was vacuuming in the afternoon.  It hit me that my time with God had been interrupted that morning and I never got back to it.  I had many burdens to be praying about and began thinking of them as I vacuumed.  I thought, "I'll go pray after I vacuum."  Then the above quote came to mind.  I put down the vacuum and went to my room to pray, immediately.  But it wasn't that easy!  As I began to pray, I began to think about the quote and how I ought to put it on the Truthlet blog.  My mind went off course with what I would say (probably only for about a minute but still a diversion).  How quickly the enemy began to steer me from purpose.   But even in his ventures to steer us off course, he actually substantiates the effectiveness of prayer.   He is showing by his vehement attacks that great good is wrought with faithful praying!  PRAISE GOD for His Divine intervention through the prayers of His creatures!

As I write this I am looking at a picture of Daniel in the lions den.  The lions surround him with "mouths closed" as Daniel engages in prayer!  "Be of sober spirit; be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  But resist him..."  1 Peter 5:8-9a