These words from Jesus has always piqued my curiosity. What does he mean by temptation? What does he mean by prayer? Prayer is wakefulness. Prayer is discernment. Prayer is communion with God. Prayer is placing ourselves within the force field of the heavenly forces of truth, beauty, and goodness. Prayer is the portal into the all-powerful resurrection impulse. Prayer is surrendering to love. As such, prayer is a bulwark against temptation; it is a protective impetus that keeps the forces of degeneration at bay. For this reason Saint Paul urges us to “pray unceasingly.” Yogananda tells us, “In waking, eating, working, dreaming, sleeping, serving, meditating, chanting, divinely loving, My soul constantly hums, unheard by any, “God, Christ, Gurus.”

Prayer will protect me
From what is without
And what is within.