Do you really, trully believe in prayer???

What is a prayer? I know that reading the bible is like feeding the soul, the more you read it, the more you will feel alive and fit spiritually. But prayer is like talking to our heavenly father, the less we talk, the less we pray... more distant we feel. More alone... the communication is broken.

Why do people even pray? What is that pull we feel that makes us try to connect to Our heavenly Father? To close our eyes, to whisper in the stillness, or to cry out in despair with tears streaming down our cheeks, or when we fall on the ground and beat the earth with our fists....

Here are some of the reasons.....
1. If we are in trouble, be it illness, unemployment, natural disaster, or marriage problems.
2. If someone we know is sick or in trouble, like a family member, a friend, a coworker. Its much harder to pray for a stranger who looks very sad walking down a sidewalk.... or a new neighbor who just moved into your neighborhood and doesn't talk to anyone...
3. We pray if we are in church, in a sacred building, on holy ground.

What is the prayer made of?
Words, soft whispers, desperate pleas, loud petitions? Mostly if we pray, our prayer consists of
a few words, that develops into a short sentence, and an 'amen' at the end of it... and we have fulfilled our duty as prayer warriors.... or did we?

Is it our duty to pray? It seems so in the bible... It tells us to pray all the time, for others, for ourselves... for we are weak as He is strong... It tells us that Jesus prayed... and if he prayed, I am sure we need it more...

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. {Matthew 21:21-23}

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. {Romans 12:11-13}

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. {Ephesians 6:18}

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {Philippians 4:5-7}

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. {Colossians 4:1-3}

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—{1 Timothy 2:1-3}

I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. {1 Timothy 2:7-9}

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. {James 5:14-16}

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. {James 5:15-17}

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. {1 Peter 3:11-13}

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, Jesus went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. {Mark 1:35}

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, sanctified be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory to forever. Amen. {Matthew 6:9-13}