"Any blemished individual shall not approach to perform the sacrifice" (Vayikra 21:17).
The Code of Jewish Law says specifically (Shulchan Oruch, Orach Chaim 98:4) that prayer is a substitute for ritual sacrifices in absence of the holy tabernacle. Therefore, the same criteria required for the sacrifices are also required for prayer.
Rebbe Nachman of Breslev (Likutei Moharan I:14h) cites the Zohar (Yitro, 79) that stipulates, "In a place where one finds the fear of Hashem, one finds perfection." Inversely, a place with no fear of Hashem is blemished. Rebbe Nachman therefore concludes that unblemished prayer requires the fear of Hashem, just as an unblemished sacrifice requires the fear of Hashem.
A person might wonder why the fear of Hashem is so vital for prayer. Doesn't Hashem hear a person's prayers whether he or she fears Him or not? So what if the prayer has a little blemish on it! What's the fuss if the prayer isn't 100% perfect?
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