Q. Here’s the deal. My friends and I are debating whether or not prayer does any good whatsoever. I know people who pray and their prayers are not always answered.

A. Interesting question. Whether a person believes their prayer was answered depends on their expectation that an "answer" means that they get what they want or prayed about. There is also the possibility that the prayer was answered but the answer was "no." Scores of studies have shown that prayer does work, especially in relation to prayers about health. And much like forgiveness (the person who does the forgiving benefits the most in terms of health), the person who does the praying may benefit the most, as well, especially in terms of health and anti-aging effects to the pre-frontal cortex.

You may want to review my PowerPoint slide set entitled, “Prayer Changes Your Brain.”