When paramedics respond to an accident, one of their duties is to take vital signs of survivors, including breathing, pulse, temperature, and blood pressure.

Vital signs are used to measure the body's general physical health and are the first step of a medical evaluation. They take a snapshot of what's going on within the body so the paramedic can measure the patient's wellbeing.

Like the vital signs for physical health, prayer is the vital sign of life in the soul. Prayer is is needed for our spiritual life just as breathing is needed for our physical life.

If one doesn't pray, they may be presumed to be without spiritual life. If the accident victim shows no vital signs, they may be presumed to have physically died.

It's widely believed that prayer is difficult and, at the same time, easy. We hear of some who can pray by the hour or longer. We may be unable to pray that long, and get discouraged as a result. We shouldn't feel that way. Some of us can only pray for a few moments at a time.

During times of suffering we can, of course, pray longer than when times are good. Some of the most powerful prayers recorded in Scripture come at especially important times in the person’s life. It's natural to pray harder when the going is challenging. However, if we can get by without prayer at all, there's cause for alarm.

Scripture urges and commands us to pray.

Some use a hymn book to start their prayers. Others, myself included, use the Anglican Common Book of Prayer and read from it to “prime the pump”.

If we can use hymns composed by others, we can certainly use prayers composed by godly people.

Prayer may be offered on your daily commute. Prayer can happen when we see a gorgeous sunset, and simply thank God for our eyes and the beauty of creation.

Do you find in your heart a yearning to be in God’s presence? Are you finding yourself wanting to know that God hears and answers prayer?

The Lord is gently calling each one of us to pray. He wants us to talk to Him about our needs, about our sorrows.

Come to Him today and tell Him what's on your heart, whether that's praise, pain, loneliness, or something else. He's waiting to hear from you.

Can you pray too much?

No, never. But you can certainly pray too little!

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24 NIV)