This excerpt is from E.M. Bounds book The Possibilities of Prayer

“Prayer is a direct address to God. (Philippians 4:6 In everything…let your requests be known unto God.) Prayer secures blessings, and and make men better because it reaches the ear of God. Prayer is only for the betterment of men when it has affected and moved Him to do something for men. Prayer affects men by affecting God. Prayer moves men because it moves God to move men. Prayer influences men by influencing God to influence them. Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.

The utmost possibilities of prayer have rarely be realized. The promises of God are so great  to those who truly pray, when He puts Himself  so fully into the hands of the praying ones, that it almost staggers our faith and causes us to hesitate with astonishment. His  promise to answer, to do, and to give ‘all things,’ ‘ anything,’  ‘whatsoever,’  and ‘all things whatsoever’ are so large, so great that we stand back  and give ourselves over to questioning and doubt.

Let us ever keep in mind…that God means all of what He says in all of His promises.”