The Protection of Prayer
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,”
Luke 22:39–41
One of the most famous human figures in all of Greek mythology was the great warrior Achilles. His exploits were told by Homer in the Iliad. Achilles had no equal on the field of battle and could not be defeated. According to the legend, his mother had dipped him in the River Styx when he was a baby. But since she held him by his foot, his heel was not protected, and eventually Achilles died after being shot in the foot with an arrow. Even today we speak of the “Achilles’ heel” as a place of vulnerability.
As Christians we do not need or believe in mystical waters or legends to protect us—but we do have an enemy fighting against us on a daily basis, and we do need God’s protection. That protection is found in prayer. Over the years I’ve counseled many Christians who have been ensnared by sin. I’ve never yet met one who fell who was diligently and regularly praying for protection from temptation. That is our greatest defense, and yet it is one we all too often neglect.
We simply do not take Satan as seriously as we should. He is not a comic figure with a forked tail and a pitchfork. He is a powerful being created by God who has turned that power to evil ends, and we have no hope of fighting him in our own strength. Even, “Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 1:9). We must pray.
Luke 22:39–41
One of the most famous human figures in all of Greek mythology was the great warrior Achilles. His exploits were told by Homer in the Iliad. Achilles had no equal on the field of battle and could not be defeated. According to the legend, his mother had dipped him in the River Styx when he was a baby. But since she held him by his foot, his heel was not protected, and eventually Achilles died after being shot in the foot with an arrow. Even today we speak of the “Achilles’ heel” as a place of vulnerability.
As Christians we do not need or believe in mystical waters or legends to protect us—but we do have an enemy fighting against us on a daily basis, and we do need God’s protection. That protection is found in prayer. Over the years I’ve counseled many Christians who have been ensnared by sin. I’ve never yet met one who fell who was diligently and regularly praying for protection from temptation. That is our greatest defense, and yet it is one we all too often neglect.
We simply do not take Satan as seriously as we should. He is not a comic figure with a forked tail and a pitchfork. He is a powerful being created by God who has turned that power to evil ends, and we have no hope of fighting him in our own strength. Even, “Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 1:9). We must pray.
Today’s Growth Principle:
A Christian who is not faithfully praying is a Christian who is vulnerable to Satan.
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