If our faith is strong, why would we assume the existence of a benevolent deity who doesn't even listen to us? Human beings learn through repetition, so perhaps the practice of prayer is merely an acknowledgement, a connection with the Universal One for our own benefit, regardless of the request already made. Maybe a prayer whispered reverberates throughout the Cosmos like a symphony, lighting the stars. Let's examine the purpose and reason for practicing the presence with the sacred ritual of prayer. "God willing" is a common phrase, so often uttered without a thought of what it means, yet we speak it as a quick little quip in response to how we hope a circumstance will be resolved, placing it in God's hands, but our participation is a part of the resolution because we said so, connecting the event with a divine intention, or a request for intervention.