Many times, people ask if what they are doing is even considered prayer. Let's look at 10 different aspects of prayer that could help you know that indeed, you really are praying. When you pray using any of these facets of prayer, you can have the confidence that God hears your prayers. You can then start looking for results. You can start expecting miracles.

1. Prayer is a spoken or unspoken address to God. The address or speech to God may express many things.

Prayer might articulate praise or thanksgiving. Prayer might express confession or forgiveness. Prayer might give voice to a request for something or someone.

2. Prayer is an action. It is the process of talking with God with energy in order to achieve a purpose. In prayer, one speaks to God verbalizing thanks, expressing regrets, or asking for help. Prayer is not passive, it is active. It is a purposeful act of communication between humans and God.

3. Prayer is focused thought. Through prayer, our thought is concentrated on a specific praise or a specific need. Once that praise or need is formed in our mind it is asked earnestly and with passion of God.

4. Prayer is introspective. Praying involves candidly examining our feelings, thoughts, and motives in life's situations. Prayer is then the process of asking God for guidance in those areas of need.

5. Prayer is single-minded and determined. Prayer is knowing and expecting answers from God. God does answer prayer. We can expect answers to prayer. We just have to be willing to see and hear the answer God determines is right for us at the right time.

6. Prayer is a connection. It is our direct link to God in our personal relationship with Him. He is our Heavenly Father and it is through our communication in prayer that we make a psychological or emotional association with Him.

7. Prayer is intention. Prayer gives us a quality of purposefulness. It gives an aim or objective to our requests to God.

8. Prayer is expectation-faith. Through prayer to God, we have a confident belief that a caring God will answer a particular request. Faith is coming to God with everything you have and with everything you are.

9. Prayer is thought provoking. Prayer causes us to consider our feelings about situations and people. God receives our compassionate considerate pleas for help.

10. Prayer is miracle giving. God can create events that appear to be contrary to the laws of nature. Prayer gives us the opportunity to expect miracles in our ordinary everyday lives.