When we love someone, we naturally want to spend time with them and have regular conversations with them. A healthy, harmonious relationship with them brings us joy and enriches our lives. Actively maintaining our prayer lives to stay in close contact with Jesus and talk with Him daily is much the same. When we reflect on all that He has done and continues to do, our spirits automatically commune joyfully and thankfully with His.

There are plenty of reasons to be thankful when we pray. Because of the finished works of Jesus, prayer has evolved from pre-cross to post-cross; instead of having to try to get God to do something for us, we now can simply thank Him for what He has already done. We’ve been given authority over anything in life that rises up against us, whether from other people or from a bad situation. “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Isaiah 54:17, NLT). We can trust the promise that any attacks against us—even verbal ones—won’t prevail.

We pray from victory, not for victory, but prayer wasn’t always like that. Before Jesus’ death and resurrection, the people’s relationship with God wasn’t like it is now. The fear that God would withdraw from them if they sinned was real. “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11). The tone and mindset of Old-Testament prayer was therefore different.

Much has changed; God is no longer angry, and He invites us into His presence. Plugging in to Him through prayer enables us to do this. Praying in tongues allows us to talk directly with Him about things we don’t understand and may not even be aware of. This type of prayer is done through the assistance of the Holy Spirit, who helps us pray the perfect prayer without our minds or limited reasoning abilities getting in the way. “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:2).

Whether we’re praying in our own language or in tongues, an attitude of thanksgiving for the blessings poured down on us empowers our prayers. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, NKJV). God, our heavenly Father and the creator of the universe, loves hearing from us and having conversations with us the same way earthly parents love hearing from their children. Our joy springs from knowing how much He loves us. “Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I Am]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete” (John 16:24, AMPC).

Jesus radically changed how we pray; we now no longer have to beg, plead, or work hard to do good to get good. We have God’s promise that He’ll never leave us. “…For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). His favor toward us infuses our prayers with joy, victory, and thanksgiving. This connects us with the kind of love that can come only from God Himself.