E.M. Bounds describes prayer as a privilege and a blessing.  A privilege because Almighty God the creator and sustainer of the universe wants to commune and communicate with each one of his children.  A blessing because in the Kingdom of God it is more blessed to give than to receive and prayer is the most generous thing we can do on behalf of another.  When we pray with the confidence of a child, we will find that God is eager to answer us, and we will discover the reality of what Jesus knew - prayer works.