God’s greatest longing is that we should get to know him, come to love him and enjoy being with him. He offers us friendship, which is only possible because of the sacrifice of Jesus; but for any friendship to develop between two people they need to spend time together. God invites us to spend time with him, talking to him and listening to him. Prayer is a gift from God; it not only helps our friendship with God develop and grow, it is true when they say ‘Prayer changes things.’ Some words from the letter of James:- ‘The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.’ It makes a difference, situations change, coincidences happen. It changes us too; as we share our lives with God we get to love the people and things God loves and hate the things he hates.

I don’t want to put you off but Martin Luther said:- ‘I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.’