Two problems trouble people regarding prayer: first, how does it work (can our opinions influence God?), and second – but it doesn't! Of course, if you can't answer the first problem, you can't begin to solve the second; understanding how prayer works is the key to making it work.

Explore what the great Torah thinkers taught about this central practice called the "worship of the mind." Prayer, they tell us, is rooted in an understanding of Hashem and His ways. We contemplate Hashem and His actions, and articulate how He would act according to our conception. This meditation is the foundation of our relationship with Him; to the extent that He desires to relate with us, our words of prayer define the framework of that relationship and, when they are accepted and fulfilled, enable us to discern Him through His actions, further strengthening our relationship.

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