I have been studying and pondering a lot recently on how I can get more out of my prayers to my Father in Heaven.  It is something that I really feel like I need and would help me so much.  I have been trying to do as my mission president advises and that is to, "Really pray and don't just say a prayer".  One of the greatest ways I have been able to do this is to seek the will of God and not always just ask for what I want or "think" I need in my life.   As the Bible Dictionary says, "Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other.  The object of prayer is not to change the will of God..."  We often ask for God to do something that we could do for ourselves, God will seldom do something that we can do for ourselves.  He is there ready to help us and aid us in our righteous desires.

     Another way to help me have meaningful prayer is to kneel when I pray.  This shows humility and that we are willing to follow whatever God may have us do, and of course sometimes takes effort on our part to move out of a comfortable position into a postition where we can truly pray to our Father.  While on our knees, in a quiet and revent place where we can be alone, we can pray vocally to Heavenly Father.  It keeps us focused and there is power in vocal prayer.  The young man, Joseph Smith, prayed vocally for the first time in a grove of trees and the results of that prayer changed my life and the world.  

I know our Heavenly Father lives.  He hears and answers prayers.  Not always in the way we may want but He knows what we need best.  There is power in prayer, and we can truly increase our relationship with God through prayer.