It seems the purpose of prayer should be to know God and celebrate being known by Him.  In other words, prayer is the means by which we live in relationship with our Heavenly Father.  The form prayer takes is dependent on the experience being shared by Creator and created.

This doesn’t suggest we are equal partners in prayer, or that we can always dictate the when and how of our conversation.  In truth, God is much more active in directing our prayer life than we might think.  Sometimes His Word drives us to our knees by conviction of the Holy Spirit and in other moments His grace brings us to our feet in applause and adulation.  Yet, our walk together is personal, and as we hope to know all about God, He desires to direct us into His holy purposes.

Perhaps the place to start in the subject of prayer is not prayer itself, but rather the nature of our relationship with God.  Friends seldom stop to analyze how they communicate, and although the tone of a conversation is important to lovers they aren’t nearly as concerned about inflection as intent. This explains why a wife will still kiss her husband when he is covered from head to toe with dirt and sweat, and why a father will pick up his bleeding child to carry her in the house and nurse her wounds.

Prayer is not always reactionary, nor is it fully predictable.  But it is foundational.  No relationship can survive without communication.  Certainly it is an integral part of our walk with our Savior Jesus.  As He said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.^” (John 15:7)