But of all means of grace, there is none which is more valuable than PRAYER; comprehending the several parts of adoration, thanksgiving, confession, supplication, and intercession. Upon your knees and looking up into the compassionate face of your Heavenly Father, you are in the posture of all others most suited to the exercise of faith, hope, love, and every Christian grace. If you decline, the declension will commence just here. The maxim is true: “Apostasy begins at the closet.” Let no slight reason satisfy you for having omitted your devotions; even as you are not content with excuses for having omitted your necessary repasts. The evils to be avoided are forgetfulness, infrequency, irregularity, formality, wandering of mind, undue brevity, irreverence, coldness, and unbelief. Question yourself as to each of these points in particular. Beware of confining yourself to mental prayer, but in your regular devotions employ audible utterance; for great is the reflex influence of the voice upon the feelings. Have stated times, at least every morning and evening; and if possible a stated place. In pursuance of the admonition, “Pray without ceasing,” let your thoughts during the employments of the day often go up in ejaculatory prayer; which is so called, because such aspirations are like arrows shot up towards heaven; and “blessed is he that hath his quiver full of them.”

James W. Alexander, Plain Words to a Young Communicant, 81-82.