“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;  meanwhile praying also for us…
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Col. 4:2,3,12).

O. Hallesby observed two hindrances to prayer with a reminder of the enablement to pray effectively.

“There are things in us which are a hindrance to our prayers. These hindrances are what the Spirit of prayer points out to us.

“First and foremost there is our selfishness. We live and move and such a narrow circle that the Spirit of prayer cannot create in our hearts true zeal for others. However, the Spirit can convict us of this sin. And as soon as I acknowledge my selfish and indifference, He will save me from it.”

“Secondly, there is our love of ease. That is why Jesus admonishes us to watch and pray. The apostle Paul speaks of it as striving in prayer. To strive in prayer means to be so watchful at all times that we can notice when we become slothful in prayer and go to the Spirit of prayer to have this remedied.[1]

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:26,27).

________

[1] O. Hallesby, Prayer (IVF, 1948) 85.