Prayer is the daughter of the fulfillment of the Gospel commandments, and is at the same time the mother of all the virtues…it is impossible for a person to turn with all his thought, with all his strength, and with all his being toward God, except by the action of prayer…regularity, progress, and proficiency in prayer are opposed by our corrupt nature and by the fallen angels who strive their utmost to keep us in their slavery, in the fallen state of aversion from God which is common to men and fallen angels.
~Ignatius Brianchaninov
Prayerful Life 