it shall be opened unto you; for every one that asketh receiveth;
and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be
opened. Or what father is there of you, who, if his son shall ask
bread, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he give him
a serpent? or if he ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion? But if you
know how to give good gifts to your children, and you yourselves are
not naturally good, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven
give a good spirit to all them that ask Him!"

V. Who is so hard and stone-like, that such mighty words ought not to
move him to pray with all confidence! joyfully and gladly? But 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." 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, manner, 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; and God works and gives above all
that we understand, as he says, Ephesians iii, 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.
For they who believe not that they will be heard, sin upon the left
hand against this Commandment