The Pray-er and the Prayer

Prayer is sensitive, and always affected by the character and conduct of him who prays.  Water cannot rise above its own level, and a spotless prayer cannot flow from a spotted heart.  Straight praying is never born of crooked conduct.  The men, what men are, behind their praying, gives character to their supplication.  The timid heart cannot do brave praying.  Soiled men cannot make clean, pure supplication.  ~E. M. Bounds, The Weapon of Prayer