Often prayers just seem to be a list of instructions to God, telling him/her what the person who is praying wants, with 'Amen' finishing it off and sending the wishlist on its way.

I recently heard an account of Mother Teresa talking about prayer. When asked what she said to God, she replied, 'I don't say anything. I just listen.'
When asked what God said, she replied, 'He doesn't say anything. He just listens.'