THE BATTLE OF PRAYER

• PRAYER IS BOTH A GIFT OF

INTRODUCTION
GRACE AND A DETERMINED
RESPONSE ON OUR PART.

• IT ALWAYS PRESUPPOSES
EFFORT.

• THE GREAT FIGURES OF PRAYER

OF THE OLD COVENANT BEFORE
CHRIST, AS WELL AS THE
MOTHER OF GOD, THE SAINTS,
AND HE HIMSELF, ALL TEACH US
THIS: PRAYER IS A BATTLE.
1.AGAINST AGAINST WHOM?
OURSELVES

2.AGAINST THE WILES

OF THE TEMPTER
WHO DOES ALL HE
CAN TO TURN MAN
AWAY FROM PRAYER,
AWAY FROM UNION
WITH GOD.
 OBJECTIONS TO PRAYER
1. ALONG WITH ERRONEOUS
NOTIONS OF PRAYER, MANY
THINK THEY DO NOT HAVE
THE TIME TO PRAY OR THAT
PRAYING IS USELESS.
2. THOSE WHO PRAY CAN BE
DISCOURAGED IN THE FACE
OF DIFFICULTIES AND
APPARENT LACK OF
SUCCESS.
 OBJECTIONS TO PRAYER
1. HUMILITY,
2. TRUST AND
3. PERSEVERANCE

NECESSARY TO OVERCOME
THESE OBSTACLES.
 DIFFICULTIES IN PRAYER

Humility, trust and perseverance are necessary to

overcome these obstacles.
IT IS A HABITUAL
DIFFICULTY IN OUR 1. DISTRACTION
PRAYER.

IT TAKES OUR
ATTENTION AWAY FROM
GOD AND CAN ALSO
REVEAL WHAT WE ARE
ATTACHED TO OUR
HEART THEREFORE MUST
HUMBLY TURN TO THE
LORD.
OVERCOMING 2. DRYNESS
THIS DIFFICULTY
ALLOWS US TO
CLING TO THE
LORD IN FAITH,
EVEN WITHOUT
ANY FEELING OF
CONSOLATION.
A FORM OF 3. ACEDIA
SPIRITUAL
LAZINESS DUE TO
RELAXED
VIGILANCE AND A
LACK OF
CUSTODY OF THE
HEART.
 HOW MAY WE STRENGTHEN
OUR FILIAL TRUST?

FILIAL TRUST IS WE MUST THEREFORE

ASK OURSELVES IF WE
TESTED WHEN THINK GOD IS TRULY A
WE THINK WE FATHER WHOSE WILL WE
ARE NOT HEARD. SEEK TO FULFILL, OR
SIMPLY A MEANS TO
OBTAIN WHAT WE WANT.
 HOW MAY WE STRENGTHEN
OUR FILIAL TRUST?

IF OUR PRAYER IS
UNITED TO THAT OF WE RECEIVE THE
JESUS, WE KNOW HOLY SPIRIT WHO
THAT HE GIVES US TRANSFORMS OUR
MUCH MORE THAN HEART.
THIS OR THAT GIFT
1.WHAT IS THE COMMON
DIFFICULTY IN PRAYER
THAT YOU USUALLY
EXPERIENCE? WHY?