Cold prayers shall never have any warm answers. God will suit His returns to our requests. Lifeless services shall have lifeless answers. When men are dull, God will be dumb.
Ah! well it is for us that God is a loving Father, who takes our very prayers and thanksgivings rather for what we mean than for what they are; just as parents smile on the trailing weeds that their ignorant little ones bring them for flowers.
Then let us earnest be,
And never faint in prayer;
He loves our importunity,
And makes our cause His care.
Expect an answer. If no answer is desired, why pray? True prayer has in it a strong element of expectancy.
How can He grant you what you do not desire to receive?
Easiness of desire is a great enemy to the success of a good man's prayer. Our prayers upbraid our spirits when we beg tamely for those things for which we ought to die; which are more precious than imperial sceptres, richer than the spoils of the sea or the treasures of Indian hills.
The reason why we obtain no more in prayer, is because we expect no more. God usually answers us according to our own hearts.
