Prayer is a relationship with God, like a friendship. Friendships grow when we spend time together, and so does our friendship with God.
The Church describes five forms of prayer:
- Blessing and adoration: we bow before God's greatness.
- Petition: we ask God for what we need, beginning with forgiveness.
- Intercession: we pray for other people.
- Thanksgiving: we thank God for every gift.
- Praise: we give God glory simply because He is God.
There are also three ways, or expressions, of prayer:
- Vocal prayer: praying with words, like the Our Father or the Hail Mary.
- Meditation: thinking deeply about God's Word, such as imagining yourself inside a Gospel story.
- Contemplative prayer: simply resting with God in love and quiet, like sitting next to a friend.
Jesus often went off to quiet places to pray. Everyone gets distracted sometimes. When it happens, gently turn back to God and keep going. Every minute you give Him matters.