Why pray? Because the devil is stirring up plenty of trouble and sorrow in the world. In Mark 1:21-28, at the synagogue of Capernaum Jesus is confronted by unspeakable wickedness in the case of demon possession. Jesus knows there is an onslaught to come. He knows that our oppressor has latched onto Him, because He has come to snatch us from the fiend. Our ultimate rescue is imminent. He has come to box the devil on the nose and cast him out: "'What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God.' But Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be silent, and come out of him'" (Mk 1:24-25)! Why pray? Because the devil is prowling about seeking to devour you!

The devil knows what is afoot when Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee. He can name the Lord. The devil knows what the game is, even if he is trying hide it from us. So it is in these days in which God's laws are flaunted in the name of love; a love bent from the purposes for which it was given by God. There can be no right love, outside of the commands of the God who is Himself love. And yet our enemy is trying to blind us to this with worldly demands for fairness. Our own natural blindness finds us calling God's law unloving and calling moral discipline names I dare not repeat. Satan would prefer us to be instructed by teenagers and morally formed by those who have not yet matured in their judgment. Such "wise, adult" children should turn again and become God's children, subject to a loving Father's disciple.

The older I get the more childlike I want to become, if that childlikeness is God's childlikeness. "Yes, dear Father, I am Your child and would do as you have commanded. I know that I will falter, but I will never glory in my fault, but confess it, sorrow over it, and seek Your mercy. Dear Father, forgive me. Turn me away from my sin. Restore me that I may not die." You see, the sin in the world leads me to pray about my own sin. If you don't need to pray, place your hand upon your heart and check to see if it is still beating. If it is, you are still in the world and there is plenty of trouble, sorrow, sin, and suffering in it. Why pray? Because I see so much needless suffering around me, much of it caused by me.