Prayer has brought a comfort to many a sorrowing heart. It has wiped away many a tear. Prayer is the Christian’s stronghold. There can be no real progress in the divine life without earnest prayer. A decline in spiritual life usually begins at the secret closet. Satan knows what a powerful weapon prayer is in the hands of a saint. As Cowper has said, Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees. The Bible says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Jas. 5:16. Prayer to be effectual must be offered, in faith. The prayer of faith has accomplished wonders in every age of the world. It has stopped the mouths of lions. It has subdued kingdoms, obtained promises, quenched the violence of fire, and escaped the edge of the sword. By the prayer of faith the weak have become strong and turned to flight the armies of the aliens. The weak child of God by prayer develops into strong manhood. When engaged in a severe contest with the enemy of your soul the prayer of faith draws upon the strength of heaven and thus you become stronger in God. In a time of heavy and sore trials by looking upward unto God in confidence we conquer. For this reason the trial of our faith is more precious than gold. “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13, 14. “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 3:22. With these promises before us we certainly ought to be encouraged to strive earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. It is the prayer of faith that moves God upon his throne. Words offered in mere form are powerless. “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him,” for “without faith it is impossible to please him.” Heb. 11:6. Man that asks of God and wavers in his faith is compared to the restless waves of the sea. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven of the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” Jas. 1:6, 7.