Prayer: Should I do it, Does it work?

Did God already have a plan for us? If we are without free will, there would be no reason. I've been told also that people pray for things they shouldn't pray for.
Often I hear people (even family and friends) who pray for sinners to die of horrible deaths. Is this right? NO! This can't be okay. Everytime I hear someone pray "And may God have homosexuals hit by a car" I cringe! We are not the judges, God is the judge. Even worse, I hear of people who pray for the destruction of countries through natural disaster. And when/if it happens, they praise the Lord for dead babies of the country. Does this put us on the same level as Westboro Baptist Church?!

Another level is here in the USA where humans are literally killing humans through their prayer. Yes. Humans, mothers and father who have access to medical care that could save their child's life and they reject it and pray instead. We know for a fact that medicine does work better than Prayer. Can we allow this.

Which brings me to this:


There are studies we can't ignore. Studies that show that praying for someone or something does not increase the chances of something. Blind and double-blind studies have been done for this, too. There is even a very well-done Milk-Gallon video (you can find easily on youtube) showing how praying to milk has the same effect.
Much of me does not believe prayer actually works.

It also goes along with people who donate to a cause. They do more work than any person who has ever prayed for that cause.


These are important questions, and I want answers.
(And don't give me and bull about how if I prayed for the answer I will get one. I have tried. Don't insult my intelligence by saying "You didn't try hard enough." Please and Thank you)