Even with our technological advances, we can still be tempted with the ancient practice of magic in our prayers.

Magic is trying to manipulate natural or supernatural powers to serve our purposes. The self stands at the center of the universe, not God. Modern technologists are the successors to pagan magicians. The magical attitude exists among technologically minded Christians as well. If you have faith, they say, anything you ask in prayer will be yours. Prayer is a technique for twisting God’s arm to get what they want. Such prayers are an abuse of relationship. And to abuse a friendship is to lost it. — Simon Chan, Spiritual Theology 

We need our hearts set on prayer, but we need prayer to be based in relationship, not formula.