Last year, I started a blog just for prayer. Strange, in its way... for I've never been a big pray-er (always been more of a Scripture reader).

But there it was. The need. Not a habit, not a tool, not even an avenue, so much as an overflow. Prayer has become for me... a stream, a bubble, a flame.

Did you know that God wants such a passionate relationship with us that it creates life within us? The life that is created is ours and the life of Christ.
When a Hebrew man knew his wife, they often created life. We are to know GOd. When I have a passionate relationship with my wife I make it a habit to do certain things and they are often an avenue to make things happen and can often require communication. But I do all of those things out of love. Prayer can be a habit and often we use it to make things happen our way and we communicate with God. However, while prayer can be all of those things, it is used by God to bring us to a place where we gain the mind of Christ and think upon all things as Jesus does. In any case prayer is a part of loving God with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength.

Expressions Concerning Prayer

In the beginning of my Christian experience I began to pray because I was told and believed it was something followers of Christ did. I confess there were days I was only going through the motions, but eventually talking to God became more than a habit.
Gradually as I listened to others share answers to their prayers, I began to petition God for specific needs in my life and the lives of others. I still remember how excited I was the first time I recognized He had answered. A young child, whom I didn't know, was near death and the doctors weren't giving much hope for her recovery. But as the body of Christ prayed, God healed her. I never forgot her name, and many years later we ended up in the same Friends Church.
Today, I still practice prayer regularly and petition God for specific needs. However, as our relationship has grown I've become aware that I'm communicating, not only with my Savior, but my best friend. I look forward to being in His presence. I praise Him and acknowledge His worthiness. I seek His forgiveness for places I've yielded to the flesh. I listen for His still, small voice. I wait on Him and my soul delights in His Word as He speaks to my need. Even when His way is hard and painful to follow, He communicates His love toward me in a manner that assures me I can trust the One who died for me.

Given the choices in the question, I'm going to have to go with "avenue for communication with God". Of course we can, and should, make a habit of communicating with God and it does make things happen.
The real question is what things does it make happen? I have a lot of trouble with this question because I do not doubt the efficacy of intercessory prayer, yet i sincerely doubt that God "changes his mind" because I asked him to.
I have a lot less trouble speaking about the things that prayer makes happen on a different level. When I pray, I come in to the presence of Almighty God, the source of all goodness, love and perfection. The more I do this, the more I become aware of the parts of my life that are not good, loving or seeking perfection. Prayer becomes a catalyst for me to try and be a better person, to live a more Christian life. Sometimes God grants the requests I bring him, sometimes he doesn't. However, the gradual change in me he has worked over the past 30+ years is undeniably something that prayer has made happen.

Jeff, you said: "The real question is what things does [prayer] make happen? I have a lot of trouble with this question because I do not doubt the efficacy of intercessory prayer, yet i sincerely doubt that God 'changes his mind' because I asked him to."

I posed a similar question/thought to a group of girls—sophomores in high school—a few weeks ago. I was a bit apprehensive that they might be troubled to wrestle with this, but they weren't. One confidently offered a response: "When you’re in any relationship, the other person really wants to know what you’re thinking, even if they’re not going to change something because of what you say. It's like that with God too. He really, really wants us to tell him what we’re thinking." A simple but very worthwhile thought, I feel.

There are bibilical examples of God changing his mind. He did so for Moses and for Hezekiah. However, it seems that when God does change his mind it is a matter of grace and in the long run it is still his sovereign will that takes place.

PRAYER
5/5/08
Jackie Hisrich

Prayer, as with any other gift of God, is vastly multi-faceted…yet so simple that a little child can master it with skill. It can really be described as all three (habit, tool and avenue of conversation), and much more.

As we follow the practice of praying without ceasing, and we whisper our praises, our concerns, our joys and our sorrows to the Lord throughout the day and sometimes during the night hours, prayer becomes as natural as taking our next breath…and we find it to be truly habit forming.

Prayer also makes things happen…yet calling it a “tool” is somewhat misleading- as if it were a power screwdriver we pick up to get what we want. However, the moment a prayer is uttered in faith something does happen in the spirit realm. God is faithful to hear and to answer. It may or may not be immediately—for that matter, we must realize we may never see the answer. What does matter is that we can rest in the knowledge that God hears and will act in His perfect time and in His perfect way. Thus, we can end any prayer with thanksgiving.

Prayer is also, beyond argument, an avenue for communication with God. Because God is a God of relationship, He has graced us with the ability to pray. As in any earthly relationship, conversation is two-fold….speaking and listening. While we long to speak, it is truly in the listening that our blessing comes. This form of prayer requires us to do some things we are not accustomed to do, and that is to be silent and to be patient. But, oh the joy when we hear from our Father!

Ultimately - prayer, like God Himself, can’t be put in a box…and if we’re honest, we don’t really want it to be after all ~

My two "bottom line" prayers are the same as Anne Lamott's: "help me help me help me" and "thank you thank you thank you."

Another pretty frequent one: "I thought You wanted me to do this -- if You do, please please please show me how -- it's just not coming together. If you want me to drop it, I will. Please please please show me the way, and I'll do it the way You want."

I also sometimes just sit with the Father, walk with Jesus, breathe in-and-out the Holy Spirit, the Breath of Life.

This a good place to have discussion. The mechanics/ the "why's" of prayer are important. However I hold that the "is" of prayer is more important. So what do I mean by "is"? I have held conversation with many about whether prayer is valuable versus only being a practice. Often the question appears to be "Do my prayers accomplish anything?"

To these individuals, and here, I offer three images. First, one of my favorite past-times has been to sit with friends, talk and listen. This may be over a copy of coffee or time to unwind at the end of the day. At times our cnversation has been purposeful, yet mainly we would sit and ponder and be attentive to each other. That was enough. A time to share and nurture the relationship. Celebrate knowing each other and deepening our common walk. Precious times. Prayer can be just this way. Time to enjoy our relationship with God. Seeking to strengthen our ties with our Great God.

A second thought regarding prayer centers around times of conflict, tragedy and trial. These prayers are often more focused. I may not have the specific question or request defined. Some of these prayers can be as simple as "God, you know my heart." I haev been with many peopel who struggle. They may be looking for a response, but often they are wary of a simple "fit-it". As they have approached me they have already heard the quick response. What they seem to be seeking is an audience in which their deep concerns will be stuggled with as they seek wisdom and direction. Prayer can be bringing our deep concerns before God, seeking an audience with Him, and seeking His best.

A third image that comes to mind can be described as giving honor and praise. Knowing that God is not one to be manipulated, rather build a position of honor and holy subservience to His will and ways.

Who else could I go to who is fully love oriented and all wise than God. God who is greater and yet reaches down to care, and be, intimately with His people.

None of the above. Prayer is a relationship full of mystry, adventure, discovery, and life.

Can you imagine a face-to-face encounter with God? Well, this is what prayer affords all who have called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and have embrace His finished work, “once and for all”.

There’s no longer a separation between Creator and creation—the veil is completely torn and the presence of a Holy God is fully accessible, He has become available to all who shall enter in. Hence there is no longer a special time and a certain way we must approach Him, we no longer need laborious preparations—we just enter unceasingly. Prayer allows us entrance into that sacred place that only a select few was allowed—we are all now given full access to the very presence of God because of our “royal priesthood”. Prayer is now a joy and a privilege, not an arduous task full of duties and assignments fit for failure—He’s approachable, even with our guilt and all. Prayer is humbling because the King takes time to sit alone with me. This personal and precious time called prayer doesn’t have to be this way—it is a privilege to have the vicarious blood of Christ covering me from what I’m justifiably due. Though still Holy, Majestic, and Powerful is He, His face He no longer hides from me!

Prayer, what an honor, what a privilege it is to speak one-on-one and face-to-face with my God, my King, my Everything!

For me, I suppose that prayer is all three elements, in varying degrees and at varying times. I still hope for a time when I can enter into prayer "at once" and feel like I'm communicating with our God.

I believe that prayer is a sacred habit that allows us to align with God "in the moment." It is here that our spiritual eyes are held open to truth and great things can happen.