Prayer

soul may not lean for help upon the Mighty One and obtain strength from Him to
resist his attacks. I was pointed to the fervent, effectual prayers of God’s people
anciently. “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed
earnestly.” Daniel prayed unto his God three times a day. Satan is enraged at the
sound of fervent prayer, for he knows that he will suffer loss.—(Testimonies for the
Church 1:295.)
Satan rejoices when prayers are spoken indistinctly.—Let those who pray and
those who speak pronounce their words properly and speak in clear, distinct, even
tones. Prayer, if properly offered, is a power for good. It is one of the means used
by the Lord to communicate to the people the precious treasures of truth. But prayer
is not what it should be, because of the defective voices of those who utter it. Satan
rejoices when the prayers offered to God are almost inaudible. Let God’s people
learn how to speak and pray in a way that will properly represent the great truths they
possess. Let the testimonies borne and the prayers offered be clear and distinct. Thus
God will be glorified.—(Testimonies for the Church 6:382.)
Satan tries to convince us that prayer is not necessary.—The idea that prayer
is not essential is one of Satan’s most successful devices to ruin souls. Prayer is
communion with God, the Fountain of wisdom, the Source of strength, and peace,
and happiness.—(Child Guidance, 518.)
Satan sees the Lord’s servants burdened because of the spiritual darkness that
enshrouds the people. He hears their earnest prayers for divine grace and power to
break the spell of indifference, carelessness, and indolence. Then with renewed zeal
he plies his arts. He tempts men to the indulgence of appetite or to some other form
of self-gratification, and thus benumbs their sensibilities so that they fail to hear the
very things which they most need to learn.
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