Comments on: Day 23 of 40 Following the Prayer Steps of Jesus http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-23-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/ Chris Altrock Sat, 14 Apr 2012 23:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Melanie http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-23-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4506 Melanie Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:42:38 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1760#comment-4506 Sometimes I'm not sure how much of my view of Satan is shaped by John Milton or Dante and even Frank Peretti and how much by the Bible. I'm not sure Satan is a demon literally sitting, invisible, up in the corner of my room, but I believe that there is a war over our souls. I hear people attributing things that go wrong--things like accidents, death, disease--to Satan's power, and I'm hardly ever comfortable with that. However, the idea that the evil one is targeting and attacking my faith or someone else's--that I can accept. And so, like Jason, I pray to be faithful and I pray that others to be faithful. Sometimes I’m not sure how much of my view of Satan is shaped by John Milton or Dante and even Frank Peretti and how much by the Bible. I’m not sure Satan is a demon literally sitting, invisible, up in the corner of my room, but I believe that there is a war over our souls. I hear people attributing things that go wrong–things like accidents, death, disease–to Satan’s power, and I’m hardly ever comfortable with that. However, the idea that the evil one is targeting and attacking my faith or someone else’s–that I can accept. And so, like Jason, I pray to be faithful and I pray that others to be faithful.

]]> By: Jason K http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-23-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4505 Jason K Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:00:53 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1760#comment-4505 I definitely believe that evil is real and it shapes my prayer. I know it is real. It have seen what evil does in my life and in the world around me. But I get twitchy about personifying that into Satan. I know Jesus did and I need to wrestle with that a bit more. I just don't like what people do when they talk about Satan. Some talk about Satan like God's equal. That is not the case. We are not in a dualistic world of good and evil. God is king; this is his world. We are sons of this King and Satan is defeated. The Dragon cannot take the followers of the Lamb if we will stay faithful. So I pray we will be faithful. Some make Satan into a scapegoat for our own bad choices. Short of demon-possession, I don't think Satan can make us do things. It is up to us: the flesh or the Spirit. So I pray for the Spirit. I definitely believe that evil is real and it shapes my prayer. I know it is real. It have seen what evil does in my life and in the world around me. But I get twitchy about personifying that into Satan. I know Jesus did and I need to wrestle with that a bit more. I just don’t like what people do when they talk about Satan.

Some talk about Satan like God’s equal. That is not the case. We are not in a dualistic world of good and evil. God is king; this is his world. We are sons of this King and Satan is defeated. The Dragon cannot take the followers of the Lamb if we will stay faithful. So I pray we will be faithful.

Some make Satan into a scapegoat for our own bad choices. Short of demon-possession, I don’t think Satan can make us do things. It is up to us: the flesh or the Spirit. So I pray for the Spirit.

]]> By: Kevin G http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-23-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4502 Kevin G Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:52:56 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1760#comment-4502 Yes, I believe satan is real. But no, I do not/have not been praying as if he is real excpet in extreme circumstances when I felt unjustly attacked. As I move into a deeper understanding of my faith, I am beginning to see just how subtle the deceiver can be. Yes, I believe satan is real. But no, I do not/have not been praying as if he is real excpet in extreme circumstances when I felt unjustly attacked. As I move into a deeper understanding of my faith, I am beginning to see just how subtle the deceiver can be.

]]> By: Cathlyn http://chrisaltrock.com/2010/03/day-23-of-40-following-the-prayer-steps-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-4500 Cathlyn Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:13:53 +0000 http://chrisaltrock.com/?p=1760#comment-4500 Satan is definitely real. I know this because the more I work on spiritual disciplines, the closer I get to God on my journey through this life, the angrier Satan gets. And I can tell because he tempts me constantly, especially through this time of Lent. When I am lazy or complacent, that is not threatening to Satan and he leaves me alone. Jesus was tempted by Satan, why should we be any different? Last year I reread The Screwtape Letters, and it articulated exactly what I know to be true in my own life. I would strongly recommend it if you haven't read it, or haven't read it in a while. Satan is definitely real. I know this because the more I work on spiritual disciplines, the closer I get to God on my journey through this life, the angrier Satan gets. And I can tell because he tempts me constantly, especially through this time of Lent. When I am lazy or complacent, that is not threatening to Satan and he leaves me alone. Jesus was tempted by Satan, why should we be any different?

Last year I reread The Screwtape Letters, and it articulated exactly what I know to be true in my own life. I would strongly recommend it if you haven’t read it, or haven’t read it in a while.

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