Mrs. Dobson urged every believer to embrace this practice, and to begin with three minutes of silence in which we ask God to reveal our own sin. No matter where you pray -- with your family around the dinner table or alone in your car as you drive to work -- take a few minutes to ask God to first search your heart. Psalms 139 says: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me."

Perhaps you feel as if you are beyond hope. Perhaps you do not believe there is One who hears your prayers. The Good News is that Christ died for you as you are. He loves you in the midst of your failures, sin and doubts. You don't have to be "good" to come before God -- you just need to be willing. If you dare to pray, to step into faith that he will hear you, God can change you from the inside out.

"My heart has been changed through prayer. If it can change one heart, it can change the heart of a nation." Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts who led his football team to a Super bowl victory this year, testifies of the power of prayer. In a video clip posted on YouTube, he encourages all of us to experience the power that can transform both individuals and nations.

The National Day of Prayer offered a wonderful opportunity to raise our collective voices. But whether or not you participated, we should remember that prayer is to be part of our daily lives. God wants to hear from you -- he wants you to ask, to seek, to knock. He's waiting for you.

The Web site for the National Day of Prayer has many links and articles that can help all of us learn to have constant communication with God. Whether you are a prayer warrior or a novice, the site can encourage and help you understand more about the importance and privilege of coming before the God of the Universe with your confessions, hopes and questions.

The theme for this year's conference was "America, Unite in Prayer." Now you know how.

Rebecca Hagelin has championed the pro-family message in both Washington and around the nation for some twenty years. She is a vice president of  The Heritage Foundation whose vision is to "Create an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity and civil society flourish."

Her weekly column, "Heart Beat", appears on  WorldNetDaily.com and  Townhall.com. She is the author of "Home Invasion: Protecing Your Family in a Culture That's Gone Stark Raving Mad."   For more information, please visit www.homeinvasion.org.