‘ Prayers are the nerves of the soul. By nerves the body is kept in order, lives, moves and remains stable; but when the nerves are cut the whole harmony of the body is destroyed; in the same way souls are kept in order by holy prayers, acquire stability and move smoothly and easily in the way of righteousness. If you deprive yourself of prayers, it is like taking a fish out of water. For water means life to a fish, so prayer means life to you. As a fish through water, so the soul can rise through the air to heaven and stand in the presence of God.

John Chrysostom