Matthew Arends -- Phenomenology of Prayer III

People tend to think of prayer as a vending machine. I insert a coin, press the appropriate buttons, and out comes the soda or treat that I wished for. This formula is a lot of how magic or science works, however that is not how prayer works; at least in the Christian faith. Prayer is more of a relationship of communication with a higher power. That higher power, God, is in complete control of what can and will happen in your life. He is already aware of what you want and what you need, but you pray to spend time talking with Him and telling Him concerns and desires not to tell Him something He doesn't know but rather because you want to tell him yourself. As noted in Phenomenology of Pray, Prayer makes us want to do the right thing. Often when I ask for forgiveness for a sin that I have done, it gives me the desire to not do it again. Praying for something to happen in my life empowers me to try and get it done. Pray in the end is enjoyable to me because I desire that relationship with my Lord and Savior and what better way can I improve that relationship than talk with Him and allow Him to change me.