addendum a sapientibus

two solutions to the problem have been suggested. the first was gleaned from a conversation with the sagacious chris griswold, who enjoined me to recall that, according to the fifth evangelist, Clive (Staples Lewis), perhaps the reason we need make entreaty before the throne is simply that "God likes to be asked." this sounds trite, but when converted into tedious metaphysical language may begin to make sense, though i have not as yet deemed it satisfactory.
the second comes from dostoevksy (and what good company he finds himself in), who seems to take my approximate view that prayer really is "just psychological," but that for that very reason the "just" should be removed, as it is in fact the precise purpose of prayer, i.e. that we learn to trust God more and align ourselves with His Will, even though this may have no direct mysterious effect on the future, except insofar as it transforms our souls and makes us more likely to act well and according to mercy in our dealings with others thereafter. Fyodor's Father Zossima puts it plainly:

"Young man, do not be forgetful of prayer. Every time you pray, if your prayer is sincere, there will be new feeling and new meaning in it, which will give you fresh courage, and you will understand that prayer is an education."