What's the Point of Prayer???????

So I got an email today, as I often do, asking for prayers. UGH. Seriously, sheeple! This particular girl knows I'm atheist, so I don't know why she is wasting her time. But I wanted to ask her - what do you think (key word there!) the POINT of praying is?? If you believe that god is omnipotent and omniscient, then he KNOWS and PLANS what is going to happen in your life! Who are YOU, lowly mortal, to beg him to change his divine plans just because they don't suit you?? Doesn't sound very worshipful to me! On the other hand, if you believe in free will, that god created you, then sat back to watch the action, do you think he's waiting for you to meet some kind of prayer quota before he finally intervenes? The faithful die all of the time - is it because there weren't enough people in their prayer circle to convince god to step in and perform some kind of miracle (a miracle that also could be explained scientifically, i.e. medically, but you choose to ascribe to god anyway)? The very idea is ridiculous and also offensive to those who have lost loved ones whom apparently god didn't think were worth saving. Besides which, if you think that heaven is some perfect place where you will be reunited with jesus christ your savior, and sit at the right hand of god, listen to angels play 'stairway to heaven' on the harp, etc. then why are you so desperately praying for people to remain here on Earth instead of heading to that divine afterlife in the sky? Shouldn't you be happy for them? Bottom line: prayer is pointless, except possibly to the extent that the repetition and focused meditation may be good for your breathing and blood pressure. You know what - yoga does the same thing, and with about the same results (in term of prayed-for outcome)! Che sera, sera~