February 5, 2023: Seems To Always Happen Before Prayer

“As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination ...” (Acts 16:16, ESV)

I chuckled as I read this passage today. It was the first time I saw this verse’s first part, even though I had read it so many times. Paul and Silas were being ‘highjacked’ on their way to prayer. How many times has that happened to you? You are just heading out the door and spill coffee on your shirt or blouse. You get in your car, turn the key, and nothing. A friend calls and needs your assistance. Anyone with a prayer life has experienced these delays or interruptions. They may be frustrating, but they are not the end of the world. I am not sure that Paul and Silas even spotted the demon at first. If you read on, she had been doing this for many days prior.

I have found in my Christian walk that you have to fight for your prayer life. The devil will throw whatever he can into your path to distract, discourage or destroy your prayer time. What we have to do is realize when he is working. Like Paul, we have to get annoyed, rise, and speak to the spirit that continues to annoy us from praying. Look at it this way; you threaten his vile kingdom when you pray. When you pray, you are bringing heaven to earth! So bring it, Saints! Pray like crazy!