And we go home with even more than we dared to ask for. In other words, sometimes we fail at prayer and sometimes we succeed. Sometimes what happens here on Sunday mornings works for us and sometimes it just doesn't. All we know is we're supposed to keep at it. The gift of righteousness, atonement, justification, whatever you choose to call it, is only God's to give.
Grace is a gift.
Grace is not grace if it's expected. Sometimes it's there, and sometimes it's just not. The gift is God's to give out of his incomprehensible mercy. We don't go back home made righteous and justified because we prayed correctly, or followed the proper order of worship, or sang the right songs, or were sufficiently humble. If we are justified, if we are blessed in our worship and prayer, it's only as a gift of God's love, which knows no boundaries, but is incapable of hate.