Christian Reflection and Prayer

God will guard you from the evil one

How can I defend myself against Satan's
attacks?

Be strong with the Lord's mighty power.
Put on all of God's armor so that you
will be to stand firm against all the
strategies and tricks of the Devil. For
we are not fighting against people made
of flesh and blood, but against the evil
rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against those mighty powers of darkness
who rule this world, and against wicked
spirits in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT

Tricking Houdini

During his life, Harry Houdini had a
standing challenge that he could escape
from any jail cell within an hour. A small
town in the British Isles had just
constructed a new jail cell they thought
was escape-proof, and they wanted to
put it to the test. Houdini entered the cell
and immediately went to work. After two
grueling hours—an hour past his deadline—
Houdini finally withdrew his file from the
lock and leaned against the door in
exhaustion. To his amazement, the cell
door swung open.

The jailors had tricked the great magician
by closing the jail door but never bolting
the lock. He was free all along, he just
didn't know it.

Satan has the same strategy, doesn't he?
His greatest weapon is to make us think
that we are trapped, when in reality the cell
door is always open. Satan can't bind us,
so he tricks us into making us believe the
cell door is locked.

Adapted from a devotional by Frank Martin
in Embracing Eternity (Tyndale House) p 292