This is not really surprising: In different cultures around the world; and at different times in history, human beings have demonstrated that the need for prayer is built in to who we are.

That we sometimes pray is not controversial, it's just a part of our behaviour as humans.

But, how we are meant to pray, and what sort of prayer "works" is far from clear, in fact, it can be the cause of controversy and argument.

For many people prayer simply means asking God (or some divine power or powers)

for help.

Many people pray for help with exams, or for more property, or for healing from sick

ness, or for better relationships.

From a Christian point of view, it can be good to pray for all these things, but asking God for such things is not at the heart of prayer, and we can't rightly expect that God will answer such prayer in ways that seem good to us.

This Sunday, May 14, at 10 am the Bendigo Lutheran Church will be thinking about the sort of prayer that is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

From the Bible we will be hearing that when we pray in dependence of God for the freedom to love each other, then we can be rightly sure that God will hear and answer our prayers.

FRASER PEARCE, Pastor, Bendigo Lutheran Church