The Effort of Prayer

Spiritual work is taxing work, and men are loath to do it. Praying, true praying, costs an outlay of serious attention and of time, which flesh and blood do not relish. Few persons are made of such strong fiber that they will make a costly outlay when surface work will pass as well in the market. We can habituate ourselves to our beggarly praying until it looks as well to us, at least it keeps up a decent form and quiets conscience—the deadliest of opiates! ~E. M. Bounds, Power Through Prayer