Questions of the soul…everybody has them! They are wound around your heart most likely hovering because it’s pretty confusing trying to figure out the answers…especially when life as we know it offers us multiple choice answers that are anything but satisfying.

The good news is that we were sent down here on earth for each of us to figure things out, to experience making choices between right and wrong and to learn how to navigate through our experiences and find out how to really be happy. And the best news: There are answers to life’s questions…and there is help in finding those answers. It’s pretty amazing when you come to realize that life is actually an open book test and help is for the asking.

More than likely…you just didn’t know there is someone you can trust to ask. We are talking literally here. We are talking about power of prayer, how to do it, and how it works…and all it takes is ‘a wee bit of faith’. Is it worth a try? You might be surprised – but you can’t just read about it! You decide. Really…give it a try and see for yourself – We are all His children and we all are able to access, have, and cherish a personal relationship with our Father in Heaven. Even you.

Prayer can be said in one’s mind or out loud. Praying aloud can sometimes focus one’s thoughts. Prayers can be uttered at any time. For meaningful prayer, it is best to seek a quiet place where you will not be disturbed.

Prayer Has Four Simple Steps

Step 1: Address Heavenly Father

We open the prayer by addressing God because he is the one we are praying to. Start by saying “Father in Heaven” or “Heavenly Father.”

We address Him as our Heavenly Father, because He is the father of our spirits.  He is our creator and the one to whom we owe everything we have, including our lives.

Step 2: Thank Heavenly Father

After opening the prayer we tell our Father in Heaven what we are thankful for. You can start by saying, “I thank thee…” or “I am grateful for….” We show our gratitude to our Father by telling him in our prayer what we are thankful for; such as our home, family, health, the earth and other blessings.

Be sure to include general blessings such as health and safety, along with specific blessings like divine protection while on a particular trip.

Step 3: Ask Heavenly Father

After thanking our Father in Heaven we can ask him for help. Some of the ways you can do this is to say:

• “I ask thee…”
• “I need…”
• “Please help me…”

We can ask him to bless us with the things we need, such as knowledge, comfort, guidance, peace, health, etc.

Remember, we are more apt to get answers and blessings if we request the strength necessary to withstand life’s challenges, rather than asking for the challenges to be removed.

Step 4: Close in the Name of Jesus Christ

We close the prayer by saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” We do this because Jesus is our Savior, our mediator between death (physical and spiritual) and eternal life. We also close with saying Amen because it means we accept or agree with what’s been said.

A simple prayer could be this:

Dear Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for thy guidance in my life. I am especially thankful for my family, our health and for thy protection as we traveled today. I want to keep thy commandments, please help me to pray daily. Please help me be a good example to my family and teach them to make good choices. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.