Do I pray enough?

Prayer was the spiritual discipline for this week. At the beginning of the chapter, Foster recorded Luther's words that, "I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer."  Three hours!  Jeepers Creepers, I don't spend that much time praying in a week!  It seems like every time I read something about prayer I feel like I've fallen sor far from where God wants me to be.
 I was convicted by many things in this chapter, but I will limit my observation to three.  First, Foster discussed that when Jesus prayed for others, "he never concluded by saying 'If it be they will.'...[The disciples and Jesus] obviously believed that they knew what the will of God was before they prayed the prayer of faith.  They were so immersed in the milieu of the Holy Spiirit that when they encountered a specific situation, they knew what should be done" (Foster, 46).  I want to be so close to God's heart that I don't have to worry whether or not my prayer is justified when I am pleading for others, but know that it is grounded in convicted faith.
   Secondly, I don't listen enough.  Listening is an important part of prayer when God speaks back to us.  We need to take time to shut up and bask in His presence.  When we ask a question, it is rude to not wait for an answer.
   Finally, I was conforted as Foster addressed different fears and misconceptions about prayer.  It is encouraging to know that I am not alone in my shortcomings to be a strong prayer.  Together, we must encourage one another to take hold of our repsonsibility to pray in faith to God.
  Honestly, I had no plan for specifically practicing this discipline this week.  This was partly due to the fact that I did not have my workbook with suggestions with me over the weekend.  Nevertheless, I did keep in mind that I ought to be praying.  Whenever I saw someone, I would try and remember to pray for them, no matter how much I knew about them or their situation.  I found myself humbled, especially when those with whom  I interacted exhibited godly qualities.  In that case I would turn around the prayer and ask God to help me be more like them and immmitate Him.
    If I have learned anything this week, it has been that prayer is a most useful weapon that you posses even if you have nothing else.  This past weekend I was in a hotel with the soccer team, and while some of us were lounging in hot tub, one friend opened up about something with which he was struggling.  I didn't have my Bible with me, and no expereience in dealing with his situation, but just called on him and those with me to pray.  God is never far from us, and prayer gives us immediate access to the one who works change in the world. 
  I also read the suggested Scriptures on prayer, and felt exhorted to practice it more.  Frankly, I didn't do the best job praying this week, though I suppose that you could say I stuck to my plan, for I did not have one.  I have come to ponder how valuable prayer is not only in my own life, but also in the lives of others.  Whether I pray ten minutes a day or three hours, there is no substitute of my access to God in Jesus Christ, and I though struggles, joys, and change, I have experienced comfort, peace, and assurance with prayer.  I suppose that I usually don't pray enough, and I will try to make it a bigger part of my life.