Dear Friends and Family,

I heard Cameron’s football coach ask the team recently “Who usually wins football games? And they all answered him –‘The team that controls the line of scrimmage.’”

We tend to think it is the quarterback or star running back that wins games. Linemen are not glamorous, no one watches them (except their parents), no one sees what they do, there’s not much recognition but they are usually the ones who determine the outcome.

It’s the same with prayer.

It’s a choice to get up early to read the Word and pray and worship God. This is where Satan tries to first defeat us – first thing in the morning. This is where he tries to neutralize us, to make us ineffective for the day ahead.

This is why I believe so strongly in first-thing-in-the-morning prayer. We need to prepare ourselves for the day ahead – to get closer to God, to be available for God, to be an effective witness for God, to know how to use our talents to serve God. Some may say just try to find some time during the day to pray – which isn’t bad; it’s just probably not the best. If we pray at night before going to bed what are we preparing for?

It’s not glamorous to get up early and pray, no one sees us, there’s no recognition but this is where we defeat Satan – early in the morning at the line of scrimmage.

Ephesians 6:10-12 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Make the choice. Put on the armor. Win the battle.

In His Service,

Ed