Prayer: Does it really matter?

I have to admit this, I know I’m not the only one struggling with this, but I have to be honest, in my part I’m really having a hard time maintaining my prayer life. I’d been a Christian for almost a decade, an active church youth member but still so guilty with this.
In a relationship, I know how constant communication is so important. Being able to communicate with my friends and love ones through different ways (like skyping, texting, phone calls) from a far made it for us to maintain our closeness.
So if you’re gonna ask me if prayer does really matter, well my obvious answer would be yes because it’s our way of communication with God that strengthens our relationship with Him. Some people might ask why pray when God already knows everything? why still present my request when He already know what’s the desires of my heart?
Well, I think prayer is a kind of two-way communication, it’s not just WE asking Him for certain things, thanking Him for the blessings He have given us, repenting to Him for the sins that we have committed but also HIM talking to us. We must also take time to listen with an open heart as He speaks through His Spirit.
As what Philip Yancey said in his book Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?, “The true relationship in prayer is not when God hears what is prayed for, but when the person praying continues to pray until he is the one who hears, who hears what God wills.” Prayer plays an role for our desires to be aligned to His by the mean of not just listening to our own heart but to His desires in our lives.

For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:20

The problem is why is it so difficult to pray? Again, like in any other relationship, ours with God requires commitment. There will always be a battle between the flesh and the Spirit. There comes a time wherein your body might refuse to do it because of some stuff (like physical exhaustion, stresses, laziness), but as we filled our life with His Spirit and let Him work in us, He will help us to conquer everything even our struggle with prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, it tells there that we should “pray without ceasing”. How is that possible? What does that mean? Upon seeing the verse, it doesn’t necessarily mean to deny your social life and go to a quiet a place, kneel with your head down and prayer the whole day, not like that. As what Rei Lemuel Crizaldo said in his book entitled Connected ka ba? How to Pray Kahit Lo-batt Ka Na? ” The challenge, actually, is to be in constant awareness of God’s presence, to have uninterrupted thoughts of God, and to live as if there is only God and you in the world.” As we let Him filled our minds and hearts, prayer would become as easier as breathing in us.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcend all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7