“To say prayers in a decent delicate way is not heavy work. But to pray really to pray till hell feels the ponderous stroke to pray till the iron gates of difficulty are opened till the mountains of obstacles are removed till the mists are exhaled and the clouds are lifted and the sunshine of a cloudless day brightens-this is hard work but it is God's work and man's best labor.”

“It (prayer) dispels frivolity and drives away all skin-deep forms of worship, and makes worship a serious and deep-seated service, impregnating body, soul, and spirit with its heavenly infusion.”

“Prayer like faith obtains promises enlarges their operation and adds to the measure of their results.”

“God's willingness to answer our prayers exceeds our willingness to give good and necessary things to our children just as far as God's ability goodness and perfection exceed our infirmities and evil.”

“Prayer puts God's work in his hands-and keeps it there.”

“Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter not with vain repetitions but with urgent repetitions. We repeat not to count the times but to gain the prayer. We cannot quit praying because heart and soul are in it. We pray "with all perseverance." We hang to our prayers because by them we live. We press our pleas because we must have them or die.”

“If we would have God in the closet God must have us out of the closet. There is no way of praying to God but by living to God.”

“We cannot talk to God strongly when we have not lived for God strongly. The closet cannot be made holy to God when the life has not been holy to God.”

“It is only when the whole heart is gripped with the passion of prayer that the life-giving fire descends for none but the earnest man gets access to the ear of God.”

“Men would pray better if they lived better. They would get more from God if they lived more obedient and well-pleasing to God.”

“Straight praying is never born of crooked conduct.”