Prayer is a constant communication with God.  We can talk to God at any time – day or night.  He is ready to listen.  However, when we pray, it is a two-way communication.  We talk to God and He talks to us.  We wait for God to answer our prayers – to reassure us or to advise us about what He wants us to do.

There are multiple ways we pray.  We pray to give gratitude to God.  We pray to intercede (or pray for other people).  We pray about our problems we deal with, like David did in Psalms chapter five (NIV).  We ask God to heal the sick, to give jobs to people, for salvation of others or to help us deal with ourselves or others.

In Matthew chapter five verses forty-four and forty-five, Jesus explains that we pray for our enemies and the reason for this: ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

God usually answers prayers through the Holy Spirit, His messenger through a small voice.  Other ways He answers prayer: through thought, what we lead to read, dreams or miracles we don’t see coming.  Sometimes the answer isn’t a response.  Sometimes He says no to our petitions.  Sometimes we have to wait for us to receive what we ask for.

Jesus explains in Matthew chapter six how to pray. 

Matthew chapter six verses five through eight: ⁵ And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Paul instructed in first Thessalonians chapter five verse seventeen to pray continually.

Jesus said this in Matthew six on prayer:

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’