And it's raining, and it's raining . . . .

I've noticed something.  Ever since I've started to focus more on prayer and personal brokenness before the Lord something extraordinary, though not quite surprising, has happened:

All hell has broken loose.

I'm not talking about going through a "rough patch" in my life.  I'm talking about literally the demonic forces of the devil rising against me.

They say misery loves company so I hope you will forgive me as I indulge in a litany of events that have come against my family and ministry in the past thirty days:

- Pipe busted in the synagogue fellowship hall, ruining walls and carpet
- Pipe busted under the house where we live, spewing sewage and mud into the house
- Our personal laptop computer died, the very computer we use to broadcast ministry via the Internet
- Our refrigerator at home died, requiring costly repairs which drained our personal account
- My daughter has had a significant and dramatic increase in seizure activity.  She suffers from epilepsy.
- And there's more which time does not permit me to list here.

Please don't misunderstand me.  I am not a superstitious person and I do not look for a demon under every doily.  I have, however, noted an interesting pattern of events in my life since I started to draw closer to the Lord. 

I believe that the devil is remarkably predictable and, if it weren't so painful, his actions and behavior would be almost laughable.  Of course!    I should have expected this and, with God's wisdom, prepared for it!  Of course the devil will attack when we try to draw closer to God!  Of course Satan will try to distract and discourage when we turn our hearts and minds to prayer!  Of course the enemy of our souls will try to bring depression and despair when we lift our spirits to heaven!  Of course!

Why?

Because there is no greater expression of power for a believer on this earth than prayer.  Prayer unleashes God's Spirit.  Prayer brings reformation of our hearts and revival to our congregations.  Prayer strengthens our spirits and deepens our communion with our Creator.  Pray, true prayer, is the single fiercest force we as God's people have against Satan and his angels in this world.  This is why the devil resists us with such tenacity for, while we as God's people may be nonchalant and non-committed in prayer, the devil understands the true power of prayer and trembles!  This is why he begins to rise against us with all that is in his unholy arsenal, because he's scared!

What should be our response when things in our lives begin to fall apart?  Pray!  Storm the gates of Heaven with our supplications!  Intercede on behalf of God's people and those who do not yet know Him!  There is a reason this is called a war, because it is!  Fight!  Dearly beloved, fight with all you're worth!  Don't allow discouragement or cynicism to rob you of prayer!  Repent and pray!  Lift your head from your discouragement and pray!  Mourn and weep before the Lord and pray!  Rejoice before the God of Abraham and pray!  When the sun shines, pray!  When the rain falls, pray!  When you seem to get no answer, pray!  When God feels a million miles away, pray!  Without ceasing, pray (I Thessalonians 5:17) for then and only then will we begin to know a deeper measure of God's power and freedom.

Pray!