Why is it so hard to pray when it is so rewarding personally and redemptively? A paradox? The Christian is engaged in a personal, moral and spiritual battle. Prayer is at the forefront of the conflict.

• Prayer clears the field for action, service merely occupies the field.

1. We struggle in prayer against ourselves. (Romans 7:14-25, Gal. 5:16-24, Eph. 2:3, etc.)

• The downward drag of our fallen nature, "the flesh," at times is acutely experienced in prayer. "No person ever became a saint in his sleep."

2. We struggle in prayer against the World (that condition of human affairs alienated from God and opposing his will). John 16:33; I John 2:15-17,5:4-6; Phil. 1:27-30, etc.

• Are we seeking the ambitions and approval of the world or the will and approval of God?

3. We struggle in prayer against the adversary. Matt. 4:1-11; I Cor. 7:5; II Cor. 2:11; Eph. 6:10-20, etc.

a. The reality of Satan and his opposition to Christ and ai1d' Christ's rule. John 8:44, 14:30; Acts 26:18; Eph. 2:1-2; I John 5:19 etc .

b. His power over believers was broken at the cross and His doom sealed: John 12:31; 16: 9-l0; I John 3:8; Col. 2: 15; 'Matt. 25: 41.

c. He is to be resisted. John 4:7; I Pet. 5: 8-9.

d. Prayer delivers from His assaults. Matt. 6: 13; Eph. 6:14-20.

e. Christ has given us power in His name over all the power of the Enemy. Luke 10: 17-20; Matt. 28:18-20; Co. 1: l3; Heb. 2 : 14-I5; Rev. 12 : 11.

The decisive battles of the world are hidden and all the inner conflicts are but the reverberations of that more real and inward war. Real prayers have been warriors who on the inner battlefield fought out the issues of righteousness and redemption with God as their ally.

From the seminary notes of Robert B. Munger