This is a guest post from Dr. Ibrahim Barsoum - a longtime friend and mentor who has guest posted on my blog before.  In this post, he shares about a vision he had several years ago that taught him an important lesson about the power of prayer and the power of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  If you too are interested in guest posting on my blog, please visit my Guest Post guidelines for more info.

One day I was sitting on my recliner in the living room and as I was looking outside at the backyard, I fell asleep. While sleeping, I had this vision:

I saw a lion hiding in a bush in the backyard.  I was afraid of him and I instantly started praying and making the sign of the cross.

I then picked up the phone to call for help.  I tried many times to call but no one answered the phone.  The lion came out of the bush and came near the door of the living room where I was sitting. I was very afraid as he came closer to the door and I kept praying and making the sign of the cross.

I called again and again for help but no one responded to my call.  My wife and my son came and tried to close the door of the room but they couldn’t.  The lion pushed the door and came inside the room. I kept on praying and making the sign of the cross.

As I sat in fear – waiting for the lion to devour me – I noticed that it didn’t.  The lion didn’t touch me or come near me at all.  The lion simply walked around the room, went back to the door, and left quietly without harming anyone. Then Iawoke out of my sleep.

I kept thinking about this vision and then remembered what the Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 

It was then that I realized the great power of prayer and also the great power of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Their power is enough to subdue even the greatest of enemies – even a roaring lion!

In speaking about our enemies, the devil and his demons, Jesus once said “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29).  He also said to His disciples in the garden of Gethsemane “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41).

The lesson for me was that I should always be vigilant and do my best to pray without ceasing.  In the end, that is the only protection we have against the devil.

Discussion: what lessons have you learned about overcoming the devil’s temptations?  Please share.