Help with prayer

What does God say about prayer and when and how often we need to do it ? I do pray to the Lord for dinner, problems , bad days or frustration, church, etc., but it seems like that's the only time I go to the Lord. I would like to know if what I am doing is the correct thing, and not that I only go to God when times are not good. Can you provide any passages for my concern? Thanks.

Rather than seeing prayer as an obligation, the Bible teaches that prayer is a privilege Christians enjoy. God promises to hear and answer the prayers of his children (Psalm 34:15, 17; Matthew 7:7).

God certainly instructs us to come to him in prayer in times of trouble (Psalm 50:15), but those are not the only times to pray or the only kinds of prayers to offer. The Bible teaches us to speak to God with “petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving (1 Timothy 2:1); it directs us to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Prayer completes two-way conversation with God. Through his word, the Bible, God speaks to us (Hebrews 1:1-2). With prayer, we have the privilege of speaking to God.

So, I encourage you to look upon prayer as conversation with God. Think of how conversation with family and friends often goes: it takes place numerous times throughout the day and night. Similarly, you can look upon prayer as a running conversation with God throughout the day and night. The sight of life’s beauties can move you to breathe a brief “Thank you, Lord.” prayer. Observing people struggling in life can lead you to a short “Bless them. Lord.” prayer.

The conversations we have with God throughout the day can be long and short. They can take place as we walk and drive, eat and rest. They do not need to fit a certain structure.

Like anything else in the Christian life, there is room for improvement in our prayer life. When we have neglected prayer or used prayer selfishly, we use prayer to confess our sins: “Have mercy on us, Lord.” In response to a prayer like that, God responds: “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist” (Isaiah 44:22). That is two-way conversation between a Christian and God in action. God’s blessings on your prayer life.