Stanley Jones in his book Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome writes: "Prayer is surrender--surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God." (E. Stanley Jones, Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome, K Hughes, Tyndale, 1988, p. 73)

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray and Jesus responded to them, when you pray say:

’Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation. "

From Beth Garrod-Logsdon’s Sermon “An Honest Prayer”