Prayer

... it is true all your desire is before God, he knows your wants and burthens, but he will know them from you; he hath promised you relief; but his promise must be put in suit, and he will for this be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them, Ezek. 36:37. Though we cannot by our prayers give him any information, yet we must by our prayers give him honor. It is true, nothing we can say can have any influence upon him, or move him to show us mercy but it may have an influence upon ourselves, and help to put us into a frame fit to receive mercy. It is a very easy and reasonable condition of his favors, Ask, and it shall be given you. It was to teach us the necessity of praying, in order to our receiving favor, that Christ put that strange question to the blind men, What would ye that I should do unto you? He knew what they would have, but those that touch the top of the golden sceptre must be ready to tell, what is their petition and what is their request?

Matthew Henry, The Secret Communion With God, p. 14-15