“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One Who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” Max Lucado

You may not always feel like praying, but God is always ready to listen to your prayers. At times, prayer may not seem convenient; it may not seem necessary, but it is. We don’t always realize the significance and importance of praying, especially when things are going well. We ought always to give God thanks and share our gratitude for His blessings, and to bring our concerns, worries, anxieties, hopes, fears, and requests to Him. But do we always? The answer is, unfortunately, no.

Why is it that quite often we view prayer as a last effort, rather than a proactive practice? Each of us has heard (and possibly used) the statement, “All we can do now is pray!” No! Prayer should be the first thing we do. First thing in the morning, and last thing at night, and at all points in between. Not just when we need something. Prayer is about more than just selfish requests. It’s about recognizing the Lord as our hope, joy, trust, relying on Him, putting our faith in Him, leaning on Him for grace, mercy, healing, understanding, comfort, peace, and company.

Here are some 15 great Bible verses about prayer:

• “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:3
• “Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” Psalm 42:8
• “I call upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.” Psalm 118:5
• “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” Psalm 145:18
• “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.” Jeremiah 29:12
• “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3
• “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Matthew 6:7
• “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22
• “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
• “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hears and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
• “Continue in prayer, and watch int he same with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2
• “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
• “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
• “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16
• “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” 1 John 5:14