There are three kinds among those who are in the habit of offering prayer. There is one who by praying fulfills a certain duty which he considers one among all the duties of life. He does not know to whom he is praying, perhaps to some God. If he is in a congregation he of necessity feels obliged to do as the others do. He is like one among the sheep who goes on without knowing where and why. Prayer to him is something he must do because he is put in a situation where he cannot help it. In order to fall in with the custom of the family or community, and in order to respect those around him, he does as everybody else. His prayer is mechanical, and if it makes any effect, it is very little.

2. Doubtful

The second kind of person who offers his prayers is the one who offers the prayers because he is told to do so. And yet he is confused whether there is any God and if his prayers are really heard.

He may be praying and at the same time confusion may be going on in his mind: "Am I doing right or wrong?" If he is a busy man he might think, "Am I giving my time to something really profitable, or am I wasting it? I see no one before me; I hear no answer to my prayer."

He does it because he was told by someone to do it or because it might bring him some good. His prayer is a prayer in the dark. The heart, which must be opened to God, is covered by his own doubt; and if he prayed in this way for a thousand years it would never be heard.

It is this kind of soul who in the end loses his faith, especially when he meets with a disappointment and prays, because if his prayer is not answered that puts an end to his belief.

3. Faithful

Then there is a third person, who has imagination strengthened by faith. He does not only pray to God but he prays before God and in the presence of God. Once the imagination has helped man to bring the presence of God before him, the God in his own heart is wakened.

Then before he utters a word it is heard by God. When he is praying in a room he is not alone, he is there with God.
Then God to him is not in the highest heaven but next to him, before him, and in him.
Then heaven to him is on earth, and the earth for him is heaven.
No one to him is then so living as God or so intelligible as God, and the names and forms before him are all covered under Him.
Then every word of prayer he says is a living word. It not only brings him blessing, but also brings blessings to all those around him.

It is this manner of prayer only which is the right way of prayer, and by this manner the object that is to be fulfilled by prayer is accomplished.