Faithful, sincere and believing prayer is the secret of the strength of every Christian. It is the power by which he defeats the Tempter. It is the channel through which you daily receive help, wisdom, grace and consolation from above. Few promises in Holy Scripture are more encouraging than the one uttered by our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount: "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is not seen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 Therefore, the Adversary seeks by all means to hinder the Christian in this duty and privilege. There are many tricks used for this purpose. Just as the commander of a besieging army may try to cut off the water supply, by blocking or destroying the pipes or otherwise, hoping to take the city, so the enemy of God and man strives to prevent the prayers of the Christian. If he can prevent the son of God from seeking peace and help from above, he knows that, sooner or later, he will be able to take the citadel of the heart. It is for this reason that I write these introductory remarks. In presenting a private prayer manual, it may be helpful to name some of the more common obstacles that stand in the way of the Christian. I will also add a few words about the best means of overcoming them. I will briefly mention eight points where it is of the utmost importance that you be on your guard

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