Prayer without fervency, is like a sacrifice without a fire. Prayer is called a 'pouring out of the soul,' to signify vehemence. Formality starves prayer. Christ prayed with strong cries. Fervent prayer, like a powder engine set against heaven's gates, makes them fly open.
Lifeless prayer is no more prayer than the picture of a man is a man.
It is dreaming, not praying. Life and fervency baptise a duty, and give it a name. Sincerity is the silver thread which must run through the whole duties of religion. We send out prayer as our merchant ship, that we may have large returns of spiritual blessings. Our aim in it is, that our hearts may be more holy, that we may have more communion with God and that we may increase our stock of grace.