Because of the fortress of God's Presence that surrounds each Christian we cannot possibly be harmed by Satan. Satan has to deceive us into moving away from God in some manner before he can harm us. Only the believer who spends time with God each day will be alerted to the deceptions of the enemy.

There is no substitute for daily prayer.

For most of us, the best time to pray is in the morning. Sometimes, however, this is impossible and we have to choose some other time of day. We absolutely must set aside at least a half hour a day to really pray and talk with the Lord.

Until we have experience in prayer we may find prayer a boring experience. There are so many needful and interesting things to do in America that talking to an invisible Person is not all that pleasant. This is because we do not have enough experience in prayer.

First we must set aside a time and place to pray. The Lord may meet us immediately. On the other hand, we may find that things are dry and five minutes seems like a half hour.

If we persist, there will come a time when the Lord meets us. Then we will begin to learn how to pray in the Spirit. I am not referring to praying in tongues, although being able to pray in tongues makes it easier, I think, to become accustomed to praying in the Spirit.

To pray in the Spirit of God means to become involved with the burdens that are coming from the Lord. We enter these and pray along with that which God is praying.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18—NIV)

We are to pray "in the Spirit," being alert to what God is saying. When our prayer time becomes an interaction between God and us it becomes far more pleasant. Instead of dreading spending a half hour in prayer we begin to look forward to it. And we begin to see specific answers, which helps.

We used to use the expression in Pentecost, "praying through." All experienced prayer warriors know what it means to pray through. You come to the Lord with a heavy concern or fear of some kind—something that is oppressing your spirit. You pray until the oppression lifts, until you know God has heard you. When you realize God has heard you, you can be sure your prayer will be answered in the best possible way.

And if we know he hears us—whatever we ask—we know we have what we asked of him. (I John 5:15—NIV)

Whenever you are bearing a heavy cross of some kind, your fervent desires are being denied, you are forced to remain in an unpleasant situation for years perhaps, you can survive by continually praying that God will release you into more pleasing circumstances.

When you are doing this, be sure to thank the Lord for your blessings. You can carry your cross successfully if you get your mind off what you do not have and think about what you do have—the good things God has given you. If you do not do this, but think only about what you cannot have, your cross will grind you to powder.

To be continued.