Why should we bother to pray? After all, God already knows what He's going to do, so why bother to ask Him to do something when it's going to happen anyway? — N.R.

Can you imagine having a very good friend—but never talking to him? Of course not, because one of the most important (and happy) parts of any relationship is the privilege of talking with each other.

And the same is true of our relationship with God. When we open our hearts to Christ and commit our lives to Him, we become God's friends—and one of our greatest joys is the privilege of talking with Him about everything. After all, that's what prayer is—talking with God. Just as you can talk with a real friend about anything, so you can bring every concern and every joy to God in prayer. The Bible says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).

This is why it's wrong to think that prayer is only asking God for something. Our prayers should include praise, and also thanksgiving for all the good gifts God gives us. Is thanksgiving a part of your prayers? If not, ask God to help you become a more grateful person. The Bible says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever" (1 Chronicles 16:34).

Does this mean we shouldn't bring our concerns and burdens to God and ask Him to intervene? No, of course not. In ways we can't fully understand, God uses our prayers to bring about His will. If you have never done so, ask Christ to come into your heart—for that is the most important prayer you can ever pray.