on the "economics of prayer"

Trip Lee did a really nice job with ask/seek/knock (from Mt 7) and what generosity looks like from a good/great God. His discussion on Jesus' analogy of God as parent was most helpful to me-- that God often gives us what's best for us (and others), instead of what (we think) we want. 

It got me thinking about the "economics of prayer": For one thing, prayer changes our hearts, particularly when those prayers are "help, sorry, and thanks". On "answers to prayer", all prayers are (probably) heard, but not as likely to be answered "yes" when they... 

-create "negative externalities" (damage-- e.g., pollution) for others 

-are zero-sum (e.g., get a certain job or my team wins) 

-are based on highly-imperfect info or "irrationality" (an inability to weigh benefits/costs well)-- e.g., all-day TV and Sour Patch Kids