First, we listen thoughtfully and carefully to God, and then we ask wisely and boldly. Such listening requires that we meditate carefully on Scripture and ponder what we learn over a period of time. Then, when we pray, we will simply say to God in our requests what God has already said to us. It all takes time — in the early morning or late at night, during a long walk on a Sunday afternoon, over a weekend when we go on retreat. Listening always comes first. If we err, we do so on the side of listening.