What is Prayer?

One day, a curious little girl turned to her father with a profound question: "What is prayer?" In their family, prayer was a cherished tradition, woven into their daily life. They had been praying together for a while, but the little girl's inquiry revealed her desire for a deeper understanding.

It's worth noting that children often embrace practices like prayer, but may revisit the same questions like these repeatedly, seeking greater clarity. And that's perfectly okay.

The father invited his curious daughter to join him on the living room couch. "Do you enjoy talking with your friends and relatives?" he asked, sparking a conversation.

"Yes, I do!" she replied enthusiastically.

"Why do you like talking to them?" he probed further.

"Well, whenever I talk to my friends, I can tell them what I saw on my favorite show. I can also ask them what they saw on their favorite show," she explained.

The father smiled, pleased with her response. "Excellent answer! In this same way, prayer is us talking to God. As we talk to God in prayer, we thank Him for everything we have, we share our life experiences with Him, and we also ask Him to provide all that we need. Prayer is our strong reminder that God is our best friend who we can tell everything about us!"

The daughter's eyes lit up with understanding. "Is that why we close our eyes when praying?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

The father chuckled gently. "Not exactly. We close our eyes to minimize distractions and focus on our conversation with God."

"Ooooh!" She nodded in agreement.

Her father smiled, his eyes twinkling. "And you know what's even more amazing? As you grow older, you'll find it easier to pray for longer periods. But what's even more incredible is that you'll become more attuned to hearing from God Himself."