Four elements of prayer

Usually when people tend to pray it's during the times of great stress or despair. Times of hopelessness. And, others pray with words of confidence and calm assurance. What makes the difference? All religions have their own form of prayers. Chants, beads, prayer rugs, smocks, incense, candles and an innumerable forms of dress or calisthenics. Most of the time these practices are performed only to, in some sense, placate some unknown deity. When Jesus came on the scene he demonstrated that prayer was much more than our feeble attempts to pacify or appease some demanding god. Arguments and debates are the norm when discussing this particular topic. Jesus made prayer the center of his life and did not treat prayer as a religious exercise. The results of HIS prayer life were undeniable.