Prayer And Religion

C.S. Lewis once said: “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It does not change God- it changes me.” Many people claim that praying is just a few muttered words full of selfish requests and won’t alter anything in their life, but it is more than that. Praying affects a person emotionally, physically, and spiritually; improvements to anxiety, confidence, and relationship with God are also expected. Researchers from Baylor University found that people who pray to a loving and protective God are less likely to experience anxiety-related disorders — worry, fear, self-consciousness, social anxiety and obsessive compulsive behavior — compared to people who pray but don’t really expect to receive any comfort or protection from God. When this is

(Effects of Prayer on Mental Health, Pedersen) Engaging in prayer, helps an individual grow closer in their relationship with God. Anne Graham Lotz stated: “When I put my faith in Jesus Christ as my savior, and I asked him to forgive and to come into my life, and he does- from that moment forward I have established a personal relationship with God that I have to develop, you know, through Bible reading and prayer.”In its most basic form, prayer is just a conversation with God. Just like any relationship, communication is key; we learn about others the more we are around them and the more we talk to them. The same goes for our relationship with the Lord. The more we are devoted in prayer, the closer we are to Him. 1 Thessalonians 5: 17 says: “Pray without ceasing.” That means to have a continuous conversation with Jesus throughout the day. If we pray without ceasing, we could see each other build a sturdier connection with