If your prayers seem to go unanswered, you aren't alone. Unanswered prayer is a common complaint among most religions; and it is one of the things that actually turns people away from religion. But the problem of unanswered prayer isn't that prayer doesn't work; the problem is simply a lack of training, awareness, and understanding. If you needed to cross an ocean, an airplane or a ship would get the job done; but, if you didn't know how to operate the airplane or ship, you aren't likely to get where you're going. Prayer is very similar: If you don't know who you are, or how you operate, you aren't likely to render the most effective prayers. In order to make prayer work, you must first, "Know thyself."

If you don't truly understand who you are, what you are, how you operate, or what you are capable of, then you're living life randomly and unconsciously - at the whim of those who tell you what to do and what to think. In order to take control of your life, end suffering, and create or attract the conditions you truly wish to experience in life, you need to learn some things about yourself. For starters, you are capable of anything; so dream big. All things are possible; but they are done to you according to your thoughts and beliefs. And, if you don't understand your own nature, and the nature of thoughts, thinking, and belief, then you may or may not be forming your thoughts and prayers effectively. Here is a list of things you need to know about yourself in order to truly own your birthright as a creator:

-You are much more than you know.
-You are much greater than you can imagine.
-You are much more powerful than you've been told.
-You and I are part of all we see.
-There is no empty space - no space between us - only the essence of what we are made of.
-All things are connected; all things are One.
-We communicate with All by way of this connection; and the All communicates with us in the same way.
-Your thoughts are important; they create.
-Your thoughts generate emotion - which is attractive.
-Your thoughts and emotions determine the nature and quality of your experience.
-You can learn to think more clearly and effectively.
-You can be more creative and make wiser choices.
-You can focus your attention and intention more specifically and directly.

Prayer is thought; specifically, most prayer is thought about how we want the future to be.
Interestingly, all thought is creative; and we tend to think almost all of the time - essentially "praying always."Most of this thinking simply isn't focused or controlled, so our life reflects the chaos of our thoughts. Our prayers are answered; we just can't keep up with all the mundane stuff we ask for by putting our attention on it! We can, however, learn more about thinking; and we can learn to think more effectively. Therefore, we can learn to pray more effectively. By coming to understand the nature of our mind and thoughts, we can learn to become creators of our own lives and masters of our own experience. Consider the greatness of all that is, and how you are connected to that greatness. Then, practice mastering your thoughts. When you have learned to shape and control your thoughts, you will have learned to shape and control your life.