Susan - Prayer and meditation aren't really the same thing. Prayer is the conscious direction of a message toward the Creator, isn't it? Meditation is an attempt to quiet the mind and achieve inner silence. Most people have great difficulty quieting their mind. Many find it virtually impossible to do so, as they are constantly thinking about something. Talking to your idea of God is one thing. Listening in silence is another. You could, of course, do both...first one, then the other...and I expect that some people do.