True prayer is an act of worship. It is the offering of incense to God. He that cometh unto God must believe that He is. He who prays must worship. Faith in the Divine Being, recognition of the Divine glory, is absolutely necessary to true prayer.
Adoration is the first element in prayer.
Lowly reverence and holy awe must fill our souls as we come into the presence of Him with whom we have to do. Prayer implies recognition of the Divine Majesty. In prayer we not only adore Him who is the source of our being, but we appeal to One who is recognized as Judge, and in whose hands lies the disposal of events. He who prays aright must pray in submission to the Divine will. The word palal , with its noun tephil-lah , which teaches us this, is the most common word for prayer in the Old Testament.