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Every year on the first Thursday in May, the nation observes the National Day of Prayer. The United States Congress declared this day to be observed, and it encourages people to “turn to God in prayer and meditation.”

Many people include prayer in their daily routines. There is also a different theme used yearly. The theme this year is:
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16 (NLT)

Prayer, as expressed in a talk with Glen Hallead, should not be a difficult task. It’s just a dialogue with God. All it takes is for you to begin talking to Him. Communicate with him daily, with genuine love and praise. If your life is riddled with struggle, speak up and seek His assistance. If you’re doing well, say a prayer of thankfulness. God is solely interested in hearing from us. He wants us to speak with Him.

If finding a place to start is difficult, the Bible provides numerous examples of how to pray, such as:

The Lord’s Prayer
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13)(KJV)

Or you can begin your prayer session by reading Psalm 16:
“Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them! Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods. Lord you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night, my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

In Conclusion
Even if what you need to pray about may not be easy, the act of praying should be. Simply talk to him. He’ll pay attention. He is your parent, from whom you seek direction. He’s the friend you need to talk to about how bad your day was. He is the provider you thank for the wonderful things that have transpired in your life, but more importantly, God is your protection and refuge from the evils of this world. Just pray. He is waiting to hear from you.