Prayer is not an empty religious exercise we do so that we can gain brownie points. God will meet us when we pray. Jesus said our heavenly Father will reward us in a way that will be visible to others (Mathew 6:6).
Yes God already knows what we need (Mathew 6:8) and he knows it is important for us to express our thoughts to him. It is human nature to talk about what is bothering us. But if we concentrate only on our needs we will likely become overwhelmed and depressed. So Jesus emphasized the following facts. 1. God already knows our needs (Mt 6:8). 2. God has the power to answer (Mt 8:13). 3. God is sending the answer (Mt 6:8).
