Pray Often

There are so many voices telling you what to do and how to think that it’s easy to become confused.  You may be comforted knowing that your Heavenly Father loves you and has not left you alone.  By turning to God in prayer, you can find answers to your questions and meaning in your life’s experiences, no matter how difficult they may seem.

You can pray at any time and in any setting. The Lord has taught that you should kneel and pray in the morning and in the evening, as an individual and with your family.  Your Heavenly Father hears and answers your prayers in ways that are best for you.  As you pray daily with faith, sincerity and real intent, you will see God’s influence in your life as you receive divine guidance and blessings.  He may warn you of danger or strengthen you to resist temptation.  He forgives your sins as you repent and will allow you to feel closer to Him.

While on earth, Jesus Christ taught His disciples how to pray. Prayer should begin by addressing our Father in Heaven and end with the statement “In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”  In prayer, you may speak openly and honestly with your loving Father in Heaven.  You can express gratitude and thanksgiving for your blessings, acknowledge your love for Him, and ask for help, protection, and direction according to your needs.  Prayer is not complicated. You can pray anytime, anywhere—out loud or silently—with perfect confidence that God will hear you (2 Nephi 32:8–9; Doctrine and Covenants 6:22–23; Doctrine and Covenants 19:28; Enos 1:1–12; Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3; 1 Kings 19:11–12; Alma 34:17–28; Doctrine and Covenants 9:7–9; Bible Dictionary, “Prayer”; Moroni 10:3–5).

Because God often answers prayers through the Holy Ghost?, it is important to learn to recognize the inspired feelings and thoughts that can come to you through prayer.  You can feel when the Holy Ghost is teaching you the truth by learning to recognize the still, small voice of the Spirit.  When your mind is filled with inspiring and uplifting thoughts and you are enlightened, or given new knowledge, that is the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the truth to you.

God does not always answer immediately, and sometimes the answer may be “wait a while.”  Other times, the answer to your prayer may be “no” because what you have asked for would not be best for you.  You will not receive a warm, peaceful feeling at these times, but may instead feel doubt or confusion or a stupor of thought.  Remember that your vision is limited, but God’s is not.  As the ultimate source of truth, God will never lead you astray.  He loves you and He is anxious to help you as you turn to Him in faithful prayer.  Sometimes answers come through His Spirit—which gives you feelings or thoughts and ideas—or He may answer your prayers through other people or the scriptures?.  Your prayers will always be answered at a time and in a way that Heavenly Father knows will help you the most.

God expects you to do your part to receive answers to your prayers.  Work out solutions and present your intended decisions to God.  Your obedience to His commandments? will influence your ability to receive answers to prayer.  Often God gives you the ability to help answer your own prayers.  As you pray for help, you should do all you can to bring about your righteous desires.

A simple prayer should follow four basic steps:

• Address God as “Father in Heaven” or “Heavenly Father.”
• Thank Him for the things for which you are grateful.
• Ask Him for what you need.
• Jesus is the Mediator ( 1 John 2:1; 1 Timothy 2:5) between us and Heavenly Father, so close your prayer by saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”