The Old Testament

A.during the 10th,9th and 8th Centuries |(J.E. Sources), prayer is described as a conversation between God and human beings.( Gen 3:8-19; 4: 9-15; 15: 1-6.// 20:3-6;28: 12-16). In prayer of Noah ( Gen 9: 25-27), the elements of petition and praise are there. In the prayer of Melchizedek ( Gen 14: 19-20), there is praise and recall. In the Prayer of Jacob (Gen 32: 24-29), there is the suggestion hat prayer involves a struggle. This imagery was later used by our Lord in Lk.11: 5-8 and 18: 1-8. Paul also uses the same imagery in Rom 15: 30; col 2: 1; and  4: 12. Thomas Merton put this as " Man's real power lies hidden in the agony which makes cry out to God, and there he is at the same helpless and omnipotent". Gen 24: 12-14 and 24" 26- 27 could  both be considered as one prayer in which all the four elements of prayer appear together as follows:
Gen 24: 12-14- recognition and petition; Gen 24: 26-27-praise and recall.