Satan Hinders Prayer

    Satan sentinels the gateway of prayer. Andrew Bonar has left it on record that he never entered into a season of pure prayer without a fierce battle at the threshold. Satan dreads nothing like prayer. He knows he cannot frighten saints with hideous features, or overcome them by coarse enticement. He stands at the portals of the Holy of Holies as an “angel of light.” He does not openly attack; he diverts.

   The church that lost its love was full of good works (Rev. 2:4). Activities are multiplied that meditation may be ousted, and organizations are increased that prayer may have no chance. Souls may be lost in doing good works as surely as in evil ways.

    A great concern of Satan is to keep the saints from prayer. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom but trembles when we pray.

    Andrew Murray says: “Prayer is the strategical point which Satan watches.”

    If he can succeed in causing us to neglect prayer, he has won, for when communion between God and His people is broken, the true source of life and power is cut off.

    In a large measure, Satan has succeeded in causing the Church of Christ to neglect faithful, constant, prevailing prayer. With little effort one may get plenty of help to conduct bazaars, socials, suppers and even meetings, but when it comes to real intercessory prayer, prayer that truly reaches the throne of God and brings things to pass, such intercessors are few. What we really need is more power and less machinery.

    Prayerlessness shows that we do not value communion with God.”

    “Men ought always to pray and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).

    Someone has said, “Satan trembles when he sees, the weakest saint upon his knees.”