The Spirit As Ally

It is the Spirit's delight to aid the man entrusted with spiritual leadership in his moral and physical weakness in this matter of prayer, for the praying soul labors under three handicaps

In each of them he may count upon the Spirit’s assistance. Sometimes he is kept from prayer by the conscious iniquity of his heart. As he trust Him, the Holy Spirit will lead him to and enable him to appropriate the cleansing of that mighty solvent, the blood of Christ. Then the spiritual leader is hampered by the ignorance of his mind.

The Spirit who knows the mind of God will share that knowledge with him as he receptively waits on Him. He does this by imparting a clear conviction that a petition is or is not according to the will of God. Again, the spiritual leader will often be earthbound through the benumbing infirmity of his body.

The Spirit will quicken his mortal body in response to his faith, and will enable him to rise above adverse physical conditions. In addition to these personal handicaps, the praying man has to overcome the subtle opposition of Satan who will seek to oppress or depress, to create doubt or discouragement.

In the Holy Spirit the praying man has been given a heavenly ally against a supernatural adversary.