Holy prayer is the column of all virtues; a ladder to God; the support of widows, the foundation of faith; the crown of religious; the sweetness of the married life. (Auct. Serm. ad. Fratres in eremo apud St. Aug. Serm 22)
Prayer is the protection of holy souls; a consolation for the guardian angel; an insupportable torment to the devil; a most acceptable homage to God; the best and most perfect praise for penitents and religious; the greatest honor and glory; the preserver of spiritual health. (Aug. ad. Probam)
What can be more excellent than prayer; what is more profitable to our life; what sweeter to our souls; what more sublime, in the course of our whole life, than the practice of prayer!
He whose attitude towards Christ is correct does indeed ask 'in his name' and receives what he asks for, if it is something which does not stand in the way of his salvation. He gets it, however, only when he ought to receive it, for certain things are not refused us, but their granting is delayed to a fitting time.
Further reading
These sayings describe prayer as support through life and end with the patience of waiting. Augustine’s Confessions offers a sustained work addressed to God, bringing gratitude, longing and self-examination together; this edition uses Maria Boulding’s translation with study material edited by David Vincent Meconi.