• Be honest with yourself. There may be some burdens you are carrying which would be lightened by sharing them with God. You may or may not be aware of having done something you should not have done, or of having failed to do something you should have done. Bring these matters out before God, and trust him to heal you. Is God calling you to do something? If you believe he may be, you could pray for clarification or confirmation.

• If you're thankful for something, express it. God loved the world so much that he sent his son into it, to die, to rescue everyone else. That's definitely something to be thankful for.

• There may be things you need. Don't be afraid to ask God for them. God does bless his people in all sorts of ways, and he is generous, not miserly. God always hears and answers prayer, but remember, God knows better than you what is good for you: your prayers may be answered in ways you don't anticipate.

• Are there people you can think of who could be helped by your prayers? Remember that we are all interdependent of each other, from the very highest in society to the lowest. Don't restrict your prayers to those who are in your immediate circle of friends. Pray especially for your leaders, whose decisions can affect the lives of many people in the community.

• Consider our world. Day by day, journalists bring us news of the events around the world, and it is in the nature of news that these events are more likely to be unhappy than to be happy. Look at a globe or map of the world. Is there somewhere that you have been thinking of particularly?

• Pray for the world wide church. All around the world, members of the Church seek to live their lives for Christ. Sometimes, others persecute them for this. Sometimes Christians find themselves in difficult conditions or situations, ministering to others who need to know God's love. Sometimes, they can share with others the joy which comes from knowing the salvation of Christ. Whether in tribulation or triumph, whether persecuted or merely ignored, they will always appreciate the value of your prayers. Think of a church near to you - is there anyone you know who would like the thought that you were praying for them?