"Prayer---secret, fervent, believing prayer---lies at the root of all personal godliness."---Wm.Cary
We do believe prayer changes things. However, a formative or ongoing prayer life, more importantly changes us. In the active side of Formation Prayer, we are pursuing God(Phil.3:12-14). In the passive side, we are being pursued by God(Jer.18). While we never want prayer to become legalistic or ritualistic, a set of guidelines to develop healthy habits, and to change us from the inside-out are welcome. One such regiment is called The Exercises and it has 4 basic elements. First, pray focusing upon our sins in the light of God's love. Secondly, pray centering on the life of Christ. Third, pray focusing on the passion of Christ. Finally, pray focusing on the resurrection. ---You could do this in a day retreat or break it upon to days or weeks.
Most of all, engage in habitual, life transforming prayer.
