My first memories of praying as a little girl were when I was 5-6 years old. I had memorized a prayer my parents taught me and prayed with them before I went to bed.

The little prayer I prayed was, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

Prayer is nothing more than a conversation with God, and I am so grateful that I can go straight to God and share my heart and concerns with him. God is never too busy to listen to what is on your heart.

Psalms 62:8 (NIV) encourages us to visit with God about everything. It says, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

God is a safe place and the best place to voice our concerns, fears, desires and needs. He is always available and ready to listen to what is on your heart.

I Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) states, “Pray without ceasing.”

This means prayer should be an ongoing conversation throughout our day. Personally, I need God’s help all day, every day. I talk to God when I am driving, working out, when I am at work and doing things around the house. Jesus is my best friend, so I love to talk to him.

I love The Passion Translation of I Thessalonians 5:17-18, which says, “Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything, be always giving thanks, for this is God’s plan for you in Christ Jesus.”

Focused prayer is good, too. I begin my mornings with time alone with God, praying and listening to him as I drink my coffee. I give him my day, pray for my family, husband, clients I will see, protection, people God puts on my heart and divine appointments. Divine appointments are connections or people God puts in our lives for his purposes.

James 5:16 (NIV) encourages us, saying, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

There is power when we pray, and it works. God may not answer every prayer quickly or exactly as I want, but to me, there is a strength and freedom that comes when I cast all my burdens on to him to carry.

One of my favorite quick prayers that covers just about anything is, “Jesus, fix it.”

Prayer doesn’t have to be long and complicated and I love that I’ve discovered it is simply a conversation with God that loves me dearly.

Thursday, May 4, is designated as the National Day of Prayer, and I firmly believe our nation needs prayer.

Let me encourage you to pray with others on this day. Pray for our president, government leaders, churches, schools, healing for our community and city officials. Pray for unity for our churches and nation.

I’ve come a long way in my prayers since I was a little girl. I pray you will grow, too, in your prayer life with God.

Let me encourage you to have more conversations with God and “make your life a prayer.”

Your prayers matter and are powerful and effective.

Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie is a Hill Country native, a writer, speaker and podcaster. She is passionate about helping others discover the joy of walking with God. Contact her at [email protected]. For information, articles, podcast or to purchase her book, “Thriving Through Seasons of Grief,” visit www.kathleen