John, in his first epistle, has several observations on prayer in 1 John 5:14-16:
- God uses us in prayer
- God gives us confidence in prayer (confidence in Him, not the prayer itself)
- God hears us pray which should give us boldness, but not arrogance
- God give us knowledge of needs, of those who are sinning, so we can pray for them
Prayer is man speaking with God, seeking God. The quiet after the petitions, the time of waiting on God, is when God communicates with man. If he leaves the time of prayer without listening for God, he has had only 1/2 of the communication, a one-sided conversation.