We do not say that prayer really changes the purpose of God, though it may be sometimes so expressed in condescension to our infirmities ; but we say his course of dealing is quite different with those who pray and those who do not. We may think, indeed, that we are drawing God nearer to us, when we in truth draw nearer to him, as a person with a boat-hook which he fixes to the shore is ready to think when he draws the boat, that he is moving the land towards him, when in fact he himself is coming nearer the land.

Edward Bickersteth, A Treatise on Prayer