When the pressures in your life begin to mount, the first thing you will be tempted to drop is your time alone with God, praying and reading His Word. And what’s more, Satan knows if he can keep you from it, he has won the battle, and he will get no opposition from you. So, how can you overcome this problem?

1) By making a covenant with God. Think about it: why do we make marriage vows? So we will think twice about breaking them! It’s the same in your devotional life: ‘When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfil it.’

2) By scheduling it. Block out time to meet with God each day, just like you would for a doctor’s appointment or a business meeting. Can you think of a more important appointment? Surely not!

3) By being prepared for the devil’s excuses. Adopt the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared! Dr Robert G. Lee used to say, ‘If you wake up in the morning and don’t meet the devil face on, it means you’re headed in the same direction!’

4) By leaving your Bible open the night before to the verses you intend to read the next morning. When you wake up, it will remind you that the most important thing you have to do today is meet with God. What if you miss a day? Don’t worry – and don’t go on a guilt trip. If you miss a meal, you don’t give up eating, right? It just means you eat a little more at the next one and move on from there.