Not long ago we had a special campaign of prayer at our church. The congregation was full of people who were eager to come to the altars and call upon the name of the Lord. During the invitation, I noticed some unusual commotion taking place while many were interceding before God. After the service ended I discovered what the commotion was all about – one of our men spotted a small snake at the altar. There it was, among the people of God as they were kneeling in prayer.

     We had some flooding in the church the week prior and it was possible the snake got in during the time when the doors were opened. We are not sure how the snake got in the church, and at that time it didn’t really matter, it just needed to meet its Maker – and it did. A gentleman quickly spotted it and immediately crushed its head with his heel.

     It reminded me that the enemy, the old serpent, hates it when God’s people pray, and will do everything in his power to distract us. He knows that prayer-less Christians are powerless Christians, so he will try to show up at our altars to keep us from getting in touch with God. Be sure, the snakes will show up from time to time; but remember that Christ has crushed his head! Keep praying even when the snake is at the altar.