To pray or not to pray

Just wondering... Is praying any effective for those who practice it and the other people around them? I mean, would praying do any good to, I don't know, all these lost souls by two plane crashes in two weeks time? Would it prevent the bombing in Gaza? Would it save all those kids, mothers and fathers? Would it make us all brothers and sisters? Would it make money something no one would care for? If it would, let me know. I'll start prayin' too. Till then, I'll leave it to Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.

track's info:
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - Prayin'
The Blue Album
Source Records 1979