The basic point of prayer is saying, “I am here. Hello. I wanted to say hello.”
That is the essence of prayer.
It is like a phone call.
I make a phone call and say “Hello, I am here.”
Now sometimes I say something more: “Please, I need a helping hand.”
Sometimes I say, “Look. I’m really at a tough point.”
Or sometimes I say, “I wish you would share the view with me.”
Well, this is prayer.
This is the basis of prayer.
All the rest is just how to put it into words.
–Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz
From We Jews, p. 123, by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz