The first is the “growth system.” By davening, we change ourselves. Tefillah is a method that allows us to recognize certain truths and to live them.
The reality is that we mortals get caught up in the ways of nature and tend to forget that HASHEM is present and that it is He who runs the world. When we need something and recognize that we are incapable of filling that need, that forces us to reach out to our Creator. We then come to the core realization that He alone is in charge. That process changes us and helps us grow. So, it could well be that before we davened, we weren’t worthy of having our requests granted, but via the process of davening we changed, and now we merit it. For this reason, HASHEM will often hold back things specifically so that man should ask because that is what he needs to grow. This is the first system of prayer, whereby a person changes as a result of davening.
