“Praying repeatedly, and seeing nothing result from their prayer, either in themselves or around them, they, instead of doubting the sincerity and merit of their own prayers , are prone to imbibe the idea inspired by a spirit of sloth and self-deceit, that powerful and availing prayer must needs be some peculiar gift of grace, reserved for some of God’s elect, and for certain extraordinary cases only….To such we say without hesitation that there is no man whose prayer may not become powerful if he only desire it steadfastly and with a pure heart, with faith and hope in God, and that there is no case in which his prayer will not be granted, if only its object be not contrary to the Wisdom and Mercy of God, or to the true welfare of the suppliant. This is saying much.”
(Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, collected sermons)