Newness of Life in Prayer, Part 1

To say that I have walked a few miles is a bit of an understatement. The reasons are numerous. I come from a long line of walkers (including my grandma, a legendary walker who logged countless miles in cities large and small).  I walk for sheer leisure and enjoyment (Arizona is full of walks with some incredible sunsets and desertscapes). I walk for fitness (with somewhat lofty goals of miles to complete) and see that it is effective powerfully in maintaining better health.  I walk also with freedom on my mind, with the matchless ability to live in the great country of America and the gratefulness to God for giving me the chance to know it.
As I reflect on these components of walking, I easily see parallels in an integral aspect of walking in newness of life - in prayer.
I look to God's Word to see the people through the ages among His people that called upon His name in prayer and realize how their lives are changed because of it.
We can definitely pray because of the sheer enjoyment of it: loving people by doing the one most powerful thing we can do for them, relishing spending time communicating with the Maker of me and the whole universe, and following in the footsteps of the One who gave His life so that we might truly live (see John 17 where we see Jesus praying for us!).
"If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me." - Robert Murray McCheyne
We bring our hearts to God, knowing that it is powerful and effective, because He says so. In James, chapter 5, verse 16, He says "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
The freedom to pray reminds us that God is all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), unconfined by time or space (omni-present), and unchangeable (immutable).  This comforts me to no end and gives me every motivation to adore Him, confess my sin to Him, thank Him for every good and perfect gift, and bring requests for others to Him (supplication).
"Pray then like this: Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."  - Matthew 2:9-13