Atheists fall to their needs and beg God when confronted with a dying child or other major catastrophe. Those prayers do not necessarily reflect a newfound belief in God, but the level of desperation and desire that the person is experiencing. Therefore, prayer reflects more than a request; it also reflects the depth of a person's desire to attain a need. Because prayer serves multiple functions, it seems fair to suggest that people who do not get things that they want and need may need to consider prayer. Prayer, if nothing else, is a designated period of contemplative thought. Prayer can help reveal the steps that a person should take in order to attain certain goals. Prayer can be motivational, giving a person the energy to continue to work to attain goals, even in the face of tremendous adversity....

Even more important is the fact that prayer can have this power even if faith is misplaced and there is no God. Prayer can serve as a means of meditation and focus, making it more likely for someone to achieve their goals, even without any type of divine intervention. Furthermore, while it is difficult to imagine God as a punitive entity who would deny needs and wants for lack of a prayer, today's society is certainly so hectic that it can be hard for people to hear God, even when he is speaking to them. Designating time for prayer not only gives people an opportunity to talk to God, but also gives them the opportunity to listen. That such dedicated time for reflection might result in a greater percentage of wants and needs fulfilled should come as no surprise to anyone who understands human motivation.