Frank R Molver (20 Sep 2004)
"When did the devil stop you from praying?"


This thought came to me while reading an amazing story about a Chinses Christian man called "The Heavenly Man"; His wife relayed a story about a time when she became lax while her husband was in prison. The thought came to her that she did not need to pray at night but that she could pray while she slept. For a while she did this until something bad happened to wake her up to the fact that it was a deception. Even then  the devil caused a sound to distract her from praying.
 
Think about this situation. I certainly fell for this.  I recall some kids that had snuck out at night and came to my window for a place to stay late at night when I was about 13. About that time I recall deciding to stop praying before I went to sleep. I did stop praying for many years with disasterous results.
 
So does the devil have a voice? He certainly does. Being the deceiver he is his voice can be disguised as a thought, a thought that you think is yours. It all appears so logical and your mind follows right along, his thoughts helping you make up your mind. He will do whatever it takes to stop you from praying. Distractions of many kinds are his tools. What is it that keeps you from praying?  How about watching TV and reading news or chasing after conspiracy theories. How are these things enhancing your relationship with Christ? Lets be honest, this is mostly a waste of time preventing you and I from having a fruitful Christian life.
 
God bless
frank