Prayer is all-powerful on account of the all-powerful God Who acts in it. It is ‘the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ Prayer by its nature is communion and union of man with God; by its action it is the reconciliation of man with God, the mother and daughter of tears, a bridge for crossing temptations, a wall of protection from afflictions, a crushing of conflicts, boundless activity, the spring of virtues, the source of spiritual gifts, invisible progress, food of the soul, the enlightening of the mind, an axe for despair, a demonstration of hope, release from sorrow…
~Ignatius Brianchaninov
Prayerful Life 