When Nathan told David that his child, born from adultery, would die, David thought that maybe he could sway the mind of God, just like Hezekiah, through humble and earnest prayer. I am sure he was thinking that if God heard his weeping and cries, the sentence might be removed and the child would be spared. I think that makes sense – who can tell whether God will be gracious? God leaves it to me to be earnest in prayer for particular blessings. I come to Him from a confidence in His power and His mercy even though I do not have a particular promise to build on. Even though I cannot be sure, I will pray, for who can tell if God will be gracious to me? So, when someone is sick and needs a prayer of faith to be healed, I will. For as long as there is life there is hope and while there is hope, there is room for prayer.

“We don’t understand this,” his officials said to him. “While the child was alive, you wept for him and would not eat; but as soon as he died, you got up and ate!”

 “Yes,” David answered, “I did fast and weep while he was still alive. I thought that the Lord might be merciful to me and not let the child die. But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Could I bring the child back to life? I will some day go to where he is, but he can never come back to me.” – 2 Samuel 12:21-23 GNT

I praise God for everything He gives me. I believe He gives graciously and with generosity to those who pray and therein, trust in Him. I respond by praising Him for all His blessings.

“Theology, which is the proper study of God, should always lead to doxology, the proper worship of God. Learning the truth about God, that He is the giver of all good things, should produce praise for God in the life of the believer.” – Steve Lawson

Wherever I am, God answers prayer and wherever I worship, God answers prayer.

O God, it is right for us to praise you in Zion
    and keep our promises to you,
     because you answer prayers. – Psalm 65:1 GNT

Henry mines the Scripture for hundreds of actual prayers and then organizes and classifies them as subheadings under the larger headings of praise, confession, petition, thanksgiving, intercession,and concluding our payers. The editor, J. Ligon Duncan, outlines the whole book in an appendix. It provides scores of specific ideas on how we can go about adoring, confessing, thanking, and petitioning God. All you have to do is personalize the headings with your own issues and conditions. I have found that you can easily spend an entire day in prayer with this guide and help. – Timothy Keller: Henry, Matthew – A Method for Prayer: Freedom in the Face of God.