The result is that, in many cases faith in the efficasy of prayer becomes weakened, until hope gives way to despair and the throne of grace is altogether neglected. The prevailing idea seems to be, that I come to God and ask Him for something that I want, and that I expect Him to give me that which I asked. But this is a most dishonouring and degrading conception. This makes my will subject to His, instead of, as in the former case, seeking to bring His will into subjection to mine. Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude - an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.
Prayer is a confession of creature weakness, yes, of helplessness.
Prayer is the acknowledgement of our need and spreading it before God. Therefore, prayer is the very opposite of dictating to God. This means, that we are content for the Lord to supply our need according to the dictates of His own sovereign pleasure. Several years ago I was fortunate to obtain in a Dublin bookshop a copy of 'The Infallibility of the Church' by the Revd Professor George Salmon. I was, therefore, especially interested in Cromlyn's piece in the 'C. of I. Gazette', March 25, 2001.