I am always reminded of the advice that Screwtape gave Wormwood, an apprentice devil (C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters ), about how to keep his “temptee” from praying affectively. He advises, “At the very least, they (Christians) can be persuaded that the bodily position makes no difference to their prayers; for they constantly
forget, what you must always remember, that they are animals and that whatever their bodies do affects their souls. It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out. …Your affectionate Uncle, Screwtape”