I have pray'd a few times in the past usually selfishly for myself.

I have read that you need to only ask once since our heavenly father already knows what we need before we ask,but when I did attend church I heard some request prayer for themselfs or others over and over for superfical things,I kinda started to think that it all just give them a placebo effect,since some were claiming there prayers were answered that seemed superficial to me and most that had genuine problems or concerns to pray for never actually got what they were asking in my opinion

I don't believe the ones asking for what I thought was superfical things were better servants to God than the others,but that is just my opinion,so I never actually got into the whole organized prayer thing,but if prayer can be done without speach I think I do it regular,since I do have alot to be thankful for and and am what alot consider to be very blessed,but I don't think its because I have been a good servant to God ,since I fall short of what is required of me by a long shot probably, but still have been provided with more than I'll ever need here on earth.

I have read some scientific studies on prayer in health care but many have different outcomes,some show high recovery rate for those prayed for while some show there is no difference,there is alot of debate on how or why these studies should be done,since there are so many conflicting reports,and millions has been spent on research.

One of the biggest studys give results that those prayed for during heart treatments from distant congregations did not reduce major complications or death rate over those who were not.
I also read a review on 17 studies published in 2003 that agreed that prayer had no effect.

Alot of the debate was on " how " each thought the prayer should be done to achieve positive results,some feel they should not let the ones involved know they are being prayed for to eliminate placebo effect, while others insist they need to know for it to work,but it impossible to know if the control groups pray for themself or by others to eliminate the placebo effect

There is alot of outrage by people that are upset the federal government is spending 2.3 million to study prayer effect since it cannot really be a controled study they feel

I'm not sure if my method of just thinking to God works, or is even considerd prayer,but I do it alot

Eddie