"Pray that you may not enter into temptation."

This is what Jesus said twice (Luke 22:39–46) to the disciples he had called to pray with him before his Passion. When they fell asleep, Jesus added: "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).

Jesus prayed often, as we read in the Gospel. This prompted his disciples to ask him how to pray. He then taught them the "Our Father" and invited them to pray like a friend asking a favor of another friend—asking, seeking, and knocking—while also asking the Father to give us the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:1–12).

When we lose hope in prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray to God—who vindicates his chosen ones—without becoming discouraged, and to pray with humility, simply saying: "My God, have mercy on me, a sinner." It is the prayer of a child, marked by truth, authenticity, and sincerity before a father.

When relationships are complicated and fraught with conflict, Jesus teaches us to pray not only alone but also as a Church, as a couple, or as a family; he calls us to pray for our enemies and to believe that "where two or three are gathered in his name, he is in their midst" (Matthew 18:20). Likewise, we can pray by seeking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (through the Rosary) and the other saints.

When we pray before the Blessed Sacrament—in adoration—we are face-to-face with Jesus, who offers himself to us; he gives us the grace to offer ourselves to him just as we are, and we draw the strength to face our lives and their challenges.

Prayer will always be a moment spent with God, who loves us; It is not just a matter of speaking to Him, but also of listening to Him. That is why we pray using the Word of God, so as to meditate on His will and the direction He shows us.

Since our life is a reflection or image of our spirit and soul, it is good to pray with our very lives. A simple way to do this is, at the end of each day, to: first, thank God for what was good during the day; second, ask God to forgive what we did wrong; andthird, ask God for the grace to change for the coming day.