True nature of prayer

The charges are unfounded. We exclude from our prayer life powerful experiences because they do not fit our definition of what prayer is or supposed to be.  Prayer means, any activity that nurtures one's relationship with the almighty.  If reading scriptures brings one closer to God, if  having coffee with a guest nurtures relationship with God, if by sitting still - totally secluded feeds one's soul, that is prayer, even serving soup in a kitchen - can also become prayer.

When we recognise the unity of body and spirit, the body can become a path to prayer.  Through God - given senses one can recognise God's presence in the day to day world.  No matter, even trivial events that are experienced through our senses can nurture our relationship with the supreme. The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to.

This is the confidence we should have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us.  And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we get what we ask from him.

God answers prayers that are in agreement with his will.  his answers are not always "Yes", but are always in our best interest.  When our desires line up with his will, we will come to know that in due course, when we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully.  God hears even the foot falls of an ant.  He certainly answers all prayers and bestows his help on his own terms.  

The pity is that we forget to recognise his help when it comes.  Moreover, a sincere call for God's help is made when human help is of no avail.  As long as man can depend upon his own resources, his call tends to be insincere and fails to evoke God's response.

No special quality except helplessness is needed to secure God's help. He is the help of helpless, strength of the weak. He does not bestow miracles of courage on the seeker.  He does not want any publicity for his work.  He prefers to let it remain undiscovered.  His help is secret, but sure.  He is at the beck and call of all but on his terms, and not ours.  The prayer to be answered by him must spring from the bottom of one's heart.