We are so poor that we have nothing; but if we pray we are no longer poor. If we are poor, God is rich; and God, as the Apostle says, is all liberality to him that calls for his aid: Rich unto all who call upon him (Rom. 10,12) -St. Alphonsus de Liguori
I just finished this very uplifting book on prayer that was written by St. Alphonsus de Liguori, a doctor of the Church and founder of the Redemptorist Fathers. I must say that this book helped me believed in my dignity as a daughter of God and my inheritance in Him.
The book talks about the benefits of establishing and maintaining a line to heaven. More importantly, it talks about the consequences of forgetting or simply not making time to pray. Basically, it emphasizes that in prayer we receive the graces we need to do God’s will, live the life that God meant for us to live and be the children He dreamed us to become the very moment He thought of creating us. Prayer is not something we use to manipulate God to do what we want. Rather, it is a means for us to have what we need to help us conform to what God wants.
Without prayer is like a soul in the midst of a fierce battle without his armor. With enemies attacking all around — with delusions, temptations and distractions that are meant for us to forget, to be distraught, or hopeless. In the busyness of the world today and all that it offers us, our world can never be at all satisfied ever when we do not prioritize to set aside time to pray. That is because prayer is the channel of life giving waters that God wishes to bestow on us as many saints indicated in this little yet precious book.
If you still are in doubt whether you should pray or not, or whether God hears your prayers, or whether you should be deserving to be before God before you pray, I definitely will recommend you to read this book.
For an online edition, here is a link: http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/prayer/mustpray.htm
