What is defined as an attempt to contact God, usually through words?

The correct answer is prayer, as it is specifically recognized as a practice in which individuals communicate with God or a higher power, often through spoken or written words. Prayer serves various purposes, including seeking guidance, expressing gratitude, or making requests for assistance. This practice is common across many religions and can be performed in different forms, such as formal prayers, spontaneous expressions, or meditative silence.

In contrast, conversion refers to the process of changing one's beliefs or religion, which does not necessarily involve direct communication with God. Natural evil refers to events like disasters or disease that are not caused by human actions and do not relate to an individual's attempt to communicate with the divine. Benevolent describes an attitude of kindness and goodwill, which does not directly pertain to the act of contacting a higher power through words.