The Bible clearly shows the need for prayer and the power of prayer all through the Old and New Testament.

Many times in the Bible people prayed and God responded.

Sometimes He even changed His mind.

Other times, His answer was "no" and He replied with words like,

"My grace is sufficient for you."

Regardless of the response, the Bible holds example after example of people praying and God hearing.

As a mom who has lost two children,

it would have been easy for me to give up on prayer many times in my life.

I've poured my heart out to God on so many occasions and felt as if my prayers were hitting the ceiling,

So I understand when people struggle to find the need for an active prayer life.

But, when I step away from my own pain far enough to have a world view of life,

I realize that prayer never was intended to be a "wish list" sort-of communication with a "wish granter."

Prayer was created as a way to share our deepest thoughts, longings, and needs with the One Who knows us best already.

Prayer is a way of laying everything out on the table and saying,

"I can't handle this alone."

It's an emptying of us and filling up of Him.

It's admitting that alone we are weak and that without Him our decisions hold less potential eternally.

If I could choose one thing for you today, it would be for you to turn to God in prayer.

Tell Him about your questions, your doubts, your fears, your longings, your struggles, your sadness, your pain.

He longs to join you in your journey.

He longs to walk through every happy moment and every sad.

Your prayers don't have to be long and impressive.

As a matter of face, Matthew 6:7 says,

"When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do.

They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again." (NLT)

You can pray while you're getting ready for work, while you're driving in your car, while you're lying in bed.

You can pray through songs, words, or simply thoughts directed to God.

Ephesians 6:18 says,
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (NIV)

Sometimes you won't know what to say.

Don't worry.

God has a plan for those moments too,

Romans 8:26-27 says,
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

We do not know what we ought to pray for,

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit,

because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (NIV)

Just know this:

God hears every prayer.

He cares.

He listens.

And in some way,

He will respond.