Prayer is a conversation with God. It is exactly like any conversation you may have with another person. The difference is that you are talking to the Supreme Being of the Universe. When you first begin to pray you are like a baby taking those first stammering words. Soon you get the hang of it and you begin making sentences. Then you make paragraphs and so on.

Through prayer you are able to change your world. As you become more adept at praying you enlarge your reach to effect change in the larger world. Before any of this happens you must have faith. Many people think you have to come to God with formal prayers that were written by those who knew God intimately. This is not true. But...you must have the desire to know God intimately! This is the most important requirement for the beginner.

Faith is at the core of the Christian experience. Hebrews 11:1 states, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. That means that your belief that something you have asked of God will happen is so strong that you are able to reach into nothingness and pull your need into the real world.

James 4: 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. NKJV

This is a profound scripture. What is meant by asking amiss? Asking God to provide your needs is not the same as asking for your wants. There are those among us who believe that living for God means that God will bless you with great riches. I do not find that the scripture bears this out. James was not only speaking about money. He was also speaking about pleasures. While I do not believe that God wants us to live miserably unhappy lives, He is not going to make every one of us wealthy. We should not judge those who have hard times as if they are not living right!

There should never come a time in the life of a believer when he or she cannot give their burdens to the Lord. However, if your prayers never reach beyond your personal concerns you are not enlarging your reach or moving up the ladder toward intimate knowledge of God.

James 5: 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. NKJV

You must be honest and open in your relationships. Take care not to harm or hurt one another by harsh words or actions. When you have hurt someone, apologize and make it right. With a sensitive nature that cares for others you will keep open and honest relationships that make for easy communication with God. When you pray one for another God heals and delivers. Needs are met, and souls are added to the church!

This is the first step to praying effectively.