3. What do I need to begin to pray? ...... ........ ...... 9
1. What is prayer?
Although "the nature of prayer is so complex,"' prayer can be compared to "the breath of the soul. It is like incense, which rises to the holy altar. There is no perfume more fragrant.' This life is for praying,' (while) in heaven there will be no praying, only praising.' Prayer is a spiritual reality, made more pleasing inasmuch as it is done according to its nature.' In prayer we turn to God alone," because in that state we are all beggars before God;" and in our indigence, we can only plead.'
2. What happens in prayer?
More than presenting God with a wish list of what we want from him, prayer is God's means to prepare our souls for what he wants to give us. "The Lord our God wants us to petition him, not in order to inform him ... but in order that by our prayer we might exercise that desire by which we are prepared to receive what he wants to bestow upon us. His gifts are magnificent, but we are small, and our ability to receive is constrained. Therefore, he said, be open yourselves. Do not be yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:12, 14). For in proportion to our simplicity of faith, firmness of hope, and ardor of desire, we will be able to be more open to receive what is immensely great, which neither eye has seen, nor ear has heard; and what has not entered into the heart of man, for the heart of man must ascend to it."" Prayer in this life is preparation for communion with God in eternal life.