Prayer is the most aggressive, offensive, pro-active, invasive work you can ever engage in. (Jennifer Kennedy Dean, author and speaker)
Is prayer a last resort for you when nothing else seems to work? Or is it the repetition of memorized liturgy that can be spoken without much thought or sincerity? True prayer acknowledges the significance of the one to whom you pray. Prayer should be a first resort and a constant practice, recognizing that only God knows and can provide what we really need.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).