Over the last number of years, I have never ceased to be amazed at how prayer can be answered, although often it is in the way we least expect it! Prayer is something of a mystery. We don’t know exactly how it works, but in faith we pray!

Here are some helpful hints and tips on praying:

• Prayer is the means by which we can deepen our relationship with God. It is like a telephone line, and when we pick up the phone we have a one-way trunk call to God.
• Prayer is not just talking to God about people or situations for which we have concern; we also need to give God time to speak to us … and that means we need to listen as well.
• Prayers can be said anytime during the day or night…whatever you are doing.
• If it is helpful, praying can be done alone quietly in a room, or as a group.
• I doesn’t matter too much about the quantity of people praying, but  what does matter is the quality of prayer … it needs to come from the heart.

If we are serious about our relationship with God then we must be serious about prayer.

• Sometimes we may know individuals who cannot pray because they are bereaved, depressed, or ill. It is up to us as disciples of Jesus, to pray for them on their behalf. We should pray for God to bless them and give them strength and an inner peace.