At its most basic level, it is the manifestation of hope in human beings, our ability to say that we don't know everything, that there is something or someone larger and wiser than we are that can guide our lives. There is no peace without the grace of God, and there is no grace of God without prayer. Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action. Undoubtedly, prayer requires a living faith in God.
Heartfelt prayer steadies one's nerves, humbles one and clearly shows one the next step.
Prayer starts without words and often ends without them. It knows its own evasions, its own infinite variety of dodges. It works some of the time in signs and symbols, lurches when it must, leaps when it can, has several kinds of logic at its disposal. Prayer is the greatest spiritual asset in the world. Prayer may be individual or communal, private or public.