Pastor asks, what is prayer anyway?

From Walla Walla-

Not long ago I made a comment on a page favored by atheists. It was not well received. The conversation had been about prayer, particularly about the silliness of naive people making wishes they hoped would be granted by a make believe fairy godfather in the sky. I didn’t ask them to believe in a God they had no intention of recognizing.

What I said was that prayer is something else altogether. It’s conversation, much like the conversation you might have with your closest, most trusted friend about the things most important to you.

I don’t know why that’s such a hard idea to grasp, but it is. Maybe it stems from childhood lessons that taught a formula for prayer: adoration, thanksgiving, petition. It was never a very good formula, even for children, and it’s certainly not appropriate for adults. Still, even lifelong persons of faith sometimes let their prayers descend into repetitive lists of things they want God to do. Admittedly, it has gained popularity among some through the work of religious hucksters promising that if one uses the right words in the right way for the right amount of time (and money), all their wishes will come true. 

More here-

http://www.union-bulletin.com/local_columnists/pastor-asks-what-is-prayer-anyway/article_1ffc6c8c-fab7-11e6-885a-ff4ec5f765b1.html