I came across this scripture today before reading a devotional email. The way it is worded really struck me.

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.

Prayer has a direct effect on our behavior. It doesn't mean that if we pray without ceasing that the devil won't send temptations our way - no that's the fun of living in a fallen world.

However with a strong prayer life, when the temptation comes our way, we won't enter in, we won't entertain it.

Who you hang out with you become more like. I know when I hang out with my friend Adrienne who is from Tennessee, I find her southern accent creeping it's way into my sentences.

How much more so with God?

The more time you spend soaking in His presence, the more of His word in your mind and heart, the more the flesh and evils of the world get pushed out of your consciousness.

There are some things that if the devil tempted me with them, I'd laugh at the very thought of him being so stupid as to try that vice. It's not something I'd pursue, because I know where God stands on that, and my opinion becuase of my time spent with God has come into alignment with His.

The devil doesn't have a chance.

But when I let my devotional life slip to the way side..

The devil will attack the finer points of my walk with God. Little things that I can't remember how God feels about it. Then he'll mix in some condemnation so that I will feel unworthy to go to God to ask.

There is a price to pay to have a strong walk with God. You need to WALK! You need to press into God when your arms are weary. You need to praise God when everythign around you is going wrong.

You need to get into the word when all you want to do is sleep. You need to pray when you don't know what to say. Because every time you do, you take a step closer to God, and He in turn steps closer to you.

The more time you spend in the word of God, the more you understand why God thinks the way He does. He doesn't spend all his time explaining things to you, he can spend time just talking, encouraging, uplifting and comforting you.

The more you pray, the easier it gets. You don't have to set aside hours a day to pray. You literally can be praying without ceasing in every situation.

But don't forget to spend that quiet time with God in your prayer closet away from all distractions where you can hear His voice without a phone ringing.

I used to think that could be done during my hour long car ride to work. But inevitably traffic would hit or the radio would be turned on and drown out God's still small voice.

I had to specifically look for a place to hide away with God. That's where the sweet moments of growing up in God are found.

In this microwaveable world, where everything is available at the push of a button, we have trouble just sitting still in the presence of God.

In this world where it's hard to find someone to trust, we don't know how to express ourselves to God.

That's the beauty of the Holy Spirit who interprets for us to God with groans we could never utter. God knows what we mean. But we need to put forth the effort. We need to put aside the tv shows and the billion other things that keep our attention away from Him and sit with our Mentor, our Savior, our Friend.

That's where we find what we were looking for all along. Ironically the very thing we want, is the thing we tend to most avoid..

Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

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