There is no doubt that prayer is a powerful and necessary part of being a Christian. The more I pray, the closer I feel to GOD but sometimes I feel my prayers getting redundant and although I know better, I can't help but feel that they may be losing power. The more repetitious my prayers become, the less they feel like they are coming from my heart. Jesus gave us the LORD's prayer, which includes all the important contexts of a powerful prayer but just to repeat it over and over seems to me like sapping its power.  The LORD's prayer is great to say once or twice a day but when saying it, you have to really focus on what it says and as I pray it, I try to contemplate each part as I'm praying and to concentrate on feeling it in my heart.



Aside from the LORD's prayer, I feel its important to continuously touch base with Jesus throughout my day on issues both large and small. I ask for His guidance in just about everything. I do a lot of driving for my job and I find that when I'm on the road I have some good alone time to chat with Him. For a lack of a better description, I'll call these mini prayers and I exercise them several times throughout the day. They are usually inspired when I feel frustrated or confused or angry. Chatting with Jesus through mini prayers helps to calm me down and avoid any confrontation. What used to result it an argument now just merits a smile and quiet resolve.



Then I have some criteria for major prayers. These are daily prayers that include my relationship with GOD and Jesus as well as anything I'm asking GOD for and are the prayers that I sincerely want GOD to hear. Of all the prayers I pray, these are the most heartfelt. Although the content may vary, the basic foundation is:



Heavenly Father, I thank you for your ultimate sacrifice and believe with all my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I am humbled before you as I confess my sins and ask for your forgiveness. I thank you for all that you have given me. The blessings are countless and are undeserved. LORD, although I ask for more blessing from You, I willingly accept what you grant and trust in Your infinite wisdom and Your plan for my life. I know how much You have sacrificed for me and how much You love me. I know that I can always talk to You and thank you for listening. You are my FATHER, my LORD and my best friend and my true wish is to love You back with all my heart. Through Jesus Christ my lord and savior's name I pray. Amen