Prayer turns theology into experience.
True citizens of the heavenly city are the best residents of the earthly city.
Christmas means Jesus came down and got involved in suffering. He hears your cries.
Christians don't believe that goodness gets you to heaven. Christians believe it's exhausting to rely on your own goodness to please God.
To pray is to accept that we are, and always will be, wholly dependent on God for everything.
Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the very best things in life.