Why does God need our prayers?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't believe that God needs the prayers of many to answer our prayers at all. The gist of that verse, as I understand it, is that when many people are praying for the same thing, and when that prayer is answered, many will be thankful to God. God does want us to glorify Him. I think there is another reason that Paul writes this to the believers ... in proclaiming what God has already done to them, and enlisting them to join him (not out of need but desire) in prayer, he is completing his own joy and giving the believers an opportunity to experience the fullness of joy as well. 1 John 1:3-4 -- "that which I have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." I explain this verse to the youth this way ... when we buy a new outfit, get a new hairdo or buy a new car, what is pretty much the first thing we want to do??? We want to show and tell someone about it. Why? Because it brings our joy to an even higher level when it is shared. I think this is what Paul is doing -- he is getting a completeness of joy in the things that God has already shown Him in blessings by sharing what he has with the others. But he is also giving them cause to anticipate the future completed joy when they are praying together and can talk together about the answered prayers. And this doesn't even touch on the potential of all the others that might be affected as word gets passed on to even more people.