Obviously praying does not work because murmuring to yourself will never change anything
Praying to your god of choice is also futile as the many and various gods are both not real and useless as stopping any misery that the world throws up.
Yet we still hear about thoughts and prayers and pray this and pray that. Yes Its a hangover from a superstitious earlier time but how do you feel about it?
It seems to more now mean "thinking about something, perhaps with many others"?