Here's another exerpt from Philip Yancey's book, Prayer:  Does It Make Any Difference?

It occurs to me, thinking about prayer, that most of the time I get
the direction wrong. I start downstream with my own concerns and
bring them to God. I inform God, as if God did not already know. I
plead with God, as if hoping to change God's mind and overcome
divine reluctance. Instead, I should start upstream where the flow
begins.

When I shift direction, I realize that God already cares about my
concerns--my uncle's cancer, world peace, a broken family, a
rebellious teenager--more than I do. Grace, like water, descends to
the lowest part. Streams of mercy flow. I begin with God, who bears
primary responsibility for what happens on earth, and ask what part
I can play in God's work on earth. "Let justice roll on like a
river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" cried the
prophet. Will I stand by the bank or jump in the stream?

I really like the stream metaphor.