When I was 18 I had a 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix. There were lots of problems with it. One was the seal of the back window had broken and in order to drive with out the wind blowing the back window off of the car I would have to drive with the sunroof tipped up so the air would flow over the window and not blow the huge piece of glass into traffic. Another problem with the car was the starter. My family is full of mechanics and I learned that instead of replacing my started I could just smack it with a hammer when it wouldn't work and sometimes it would be enough to start the car.

Thats prayer for me sometimes. I wait until things are bad and pull out the hammer to take a few final wacks at the problem. Prayer should be way more like the fuel we put into the car. The very thing it needs to move. My car ALWAYS needs gas. My life ALWAYS needs prayer.

Read Luke 11:1-13 for a funny story Jesus tells about how prayer is not a one time deal but a process. Sometimes a long one. If you have something that is about to be a problem pray now and tomorrow and the next day and the next day instead of just whacking it with a hammer when there are no other options.