All of us are called to an eternal relationship with God. He created us, after all. Jesus shed His Blood on the cross so we may be redeemed. We have been sanctified by His grace. God is an indescribable mystery and He allows us to approach Him and invites us to be in full union with Him. Through prayer, we are able to deepen our bond with Christ. Without prayer, the spiritual life is nearly impossible.
Christian prayer, in simple terms, is a conversation with God. It’s an outlet that allows us to express our love to Him, as well as share fears and desires. There comes a time where prayer may seem difficult to approach. We may become distracted by earthly delights and forget who is the Truth. We may also view prayer as only for those who are extremely pious, such as people who live in convents or monasteries. This statement is completely untrue. There isn’t a “correct” way to pray, but we are able to look at what Jesus taught His disciples.
Prayer comes from the depth of the heart, not perfection of words.
For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven; it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy (St. Therese of Lisieux).
God is a perfect Divine Being and doesn’t have anything to gain from our prayers. He desires our prayers for our own benefit. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4-5).
In a peaceful space, I encourage you to invite the Lord into prayer using “Come Holy Spirit” or “My Jesus”. It may create an environment where you can fully open your heart and to deeply feel the presence of Jesus in the room with you.
Offer up your prayers and petitions to the Lord in this manner. I also encourage you to take a brief moment in the morning, afternoon, and night, specifically for prayer, even if it is on the shorter side. There are times where our days do not allow us to dedicate a substantial amount of time to pray, so finding small moments like this to acknowledge the Lord goes a long way.
I offer my loved one’s hearts up to the Lord quite often. I begin with, “I do not know the condition of his or her heart, but I offer it up to You to enter in and make new.” There are other individuals in my life who need their first encounter with the Lord, so in deep devotion, I pray that Christ reveals Himself to the person. These prayers of intercession cultivate my own relationship with God, strengthening a deeper connection with Him by praying for His people.
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
The Holy Spirit dwells in the human heart through prayer. Prayer truly has the ability to transform hearts and minds according to the Lord’s will.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).
It is important that we do our best to keep prayer in our daily lives. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!” (2 Peter 3:18).
Through our prayers of praise, adoration, and thanksgiving, we acknowledge our pettiness and insignificance compared to God’s greatness and power, as well as our dependence on Him for everything that we have (Rosa).
We have the ability to receive God’s mercy by repenting on our sinful nature and acknowledging the areas we can better serve Him.
Prayer is truly a gift from God. It allows us to connect to the Divine in such an intimate way. We are invited to seek guidance and strengthen our relationship with Him. If we view prayer as a gift rather than an obligation, we may be more open to receiving God’s gifts.
References
Rosa, Michelle La. “The Importance of Prayer.” Catholic News Agency, Catholic News Agency, 10 May 2025,
“Access Your Bible from Anywhere.” BibleGateway.Com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages.
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Author: Taylor Willis
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