Prayer is...
"Prayer is an earnest and familiar talking with God, to whom we declare our miseries, whose support and help we implore and desire in our adversities, and whom we laud and praise for our benefits received."
- John Knox, Treatise on Prayer
"Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God hath promised, or according to the Word, for the good of the church, with submission, in faith, to the will of God."
- John Bunyan, A Discourse Touching Prayer
"Prayer is a venting of our desires to God..."
- Richard Sibbes, Divine Contemplations, 163
"Prayer is the solemn and religious offering up of devout acknowledgments and desires to God, or a sincere representation of holy affections, with a design to give unto God the glory due unto his Name thereby, and to obtain from him promised favours, and both through the Mediator."
- Matthew Henry, A Method for Prayer
"Prayer is the breath of the new creature."
- Richard Baxter, Practical Works, Vol 1