t how many prayers must be reformed, if we are to pray aright
according to these words! Now, indeed, all churches and monastic
houses are full of praying and singing, but how does it happen
that so little improvement and benefit result from it, and things
daily grow worse? The reason is none other than that which St.
James indicates when he says: "You ask much and receive not,
because ye ask amiss." [Jas. 4:3] For where this faith and
confidence is not in the prayer, the prayer is dead, and nothing
more than a grievous labor and work. If anything is given for
it, it is none the less only temporal benefit without any
blessing and help for the soul; nay, to the great injury and
blinding of souls, so that they go their way, babbling much with
their mouths, regardless of whether they receive, or desire, or
trust; and in this unbelief, the state of mind most opposed to
the exercise of faith and to the nature of prayer, they remain
hardened.

From this it follows that one who prays aright never doubts that
his prayer is surely acceptable and heard, although the very
thing for which he prays be not given him. For we are to lay our
need "before God in prayer, but not prescribe to Him a measure,
number, time or place; but if He wills to give it to us better or
in another way than we think, we are to leave it to Him; for
frequently we do not know what we pray, as St. Paul says, Romans
viii [Rom. 8:26]; and God works and gives above all that we
understand, as he says, Ephesians iii [Eph. 3:20], so that there
be no doubt that the prayer is acceptable and heard, and we yet
leave to God the time, place, measure and limit; He will surely
do what is right. They are the true worshipers, who worship God
in spirit and in truth. [John 4:24] For they who believe not that
they will be heard, sin upon the left hand against this
Commandment, and go far astray with their unbelief. But they who
set a limit for Him, sin upon the other side, and come too close
with their tempting of God. So He has forbidden both, that we
should err from His Commandment neither to the left nor to the
right [Deut 6:16, 28:14], that is, neither with unbelief nor with
tempting, but with simple faith remain on the straight road,
trusting Him, and yet setting Him no bounds.

[Sidenote: Weak Faith no Reason for not Praying]

VI. Thus we see that this Commandment, like the Second, is to be
nothing else than a doing and keeping of the First Commandment,
that is, of f