This religious desire

This religious desire and effort of the soul to
relate itself and all its interest to God and his
will is prayer in the deepest sense. This is
essential prayer. Uttered or unexpressed, it is
equally prayer. It is the soul's desire after God
going forth in manifestation, ... --the soul
striving after God. This is a prayer that may exist
without ceasing, consisting, as it does, not
in doing or saying this or that, but in temper
and attitude of the spirit.
- Borden Parker Bowne (1847-1910),
Essence of Religion