Prayer does indeed influence the Lord. Hezekiah, for example, wept when God told him to set his house in order, for he was about to die. What happened? God gave him an additional 15 years. I think we must always pray, and not hesitate to communicate our desires to the Lord, but we must note,”not my will, but thine be done. There was once a young 22 year old US Marine who arrived at a small outpost in Phu Loc District, South Vietnam, in October 1967. A week after arriving, the outpost experienced a ground assault at night by the Viet Cong. During the heaviest minutes of the assault, the young Marine asked the Lord to spare his life, or if not, that it would be a quick death. The prayer was answered. He survived the entire tour without a scratch. I was that Marine. Prayers to Our Lord gives one peace, even in worst of circumstances, and regardless of the outcome, we need to always out our trust in God. Soli Deo Gloria