Religious people, what is the difference between hope and prayer?

Hope is a simple but often pedestrian emotion. You can hope your favorite lunchmeat goes on sale. You can HOPE that the hairdresser doesn't mess up your hair this once.

But prayer is a beseeching. It begs God, or any higher power in which you might believe, to intervene, and to help us. We beg God for help with the TRULY important things in our lives.