Prayer

Most of us seem to think that the purpose of prayer is to ask God for things that we want, and "need," as well as to ask for what we want for others. It is generally defined: "The act of attempting to verbally communicate with the supenatural, or Divine. It is sometimes communal, as during a church service; it is sometimes done in private. Its purpose is to praise God, to give thanks to God, to repent of sinful behavior, to ask forgiveness, to seek a favor from God." Of course this definition is limited, but the point I want to make is that prayer is communion with the divine. Communication is reciprocal sharing between individuals of written, oral and non-verbal information according to a common set of rules. The problem lies in that most of us are too busy talking, to recieve anything.
As prayer becomes more attentive and inward, one will find that one has less and less to say, and ideally it becomes a time of complete silence. By silence I do not mean inactivity. This is when one can begin to "listen" rather than speak. It is the understanding that "God, already knows of that which you have need." Therefore, it is unecessary to reiterate it verbally, one needs only to be still, and allow one's self to recieve.
"Be still, and know that I am God."