No. I mean what motivates you to follow such a being? Why do you do it?
Simply put, because I believe God exists and since I do, turning away from Him could have dire consequences.... that is the fear of God part.
If I was a theist I would not.
If you were a theist you would follow God, that is is what theists do.
Do you think God helps you with suffering?
Yes, I do, but not always in ways that can be seen immediately. Sometimes I have to look really hard to see the help that was offered and sometimes it is really obvious. Invariably, God's help comes through other people who help me and I believe God has a part in why they show up right when I need them. This has happened especially when I cry out in desperation, not really a prayer, rather a cry for help.
I suffer, and it never even occurs to me to pray. I turn to my friends and to my own resources. I don't seem to suffer any worse for fare any better than those who pray.
Well, if you don't believe that God exists I don't know why you would pray, or believe that God would help you.
But I believe that God would help you even if you do not believe in Him since God loves everyone, not just believers.
I also turn to other resources, friends, counselors, or whoever I can find. I don't just rely upon prayer.
Does the prayer do anything?
I don't think anyone can really know, all we can do is believe. I believe it does because my religion teaches that. I have not prayed much until lately but now I am desperate so I started to pray all the time. I figure it cannot hurt and it might help. I believe God knows everything I am going through and everything that is in my mind, but since my religion says God wants us to pray that is an extra measure I can take to stack the deck in my favor.
The other thing is that an omnipotent can turn the ship around if He chooses to so if I pray a lot that gives me hope that at least I did all I can do. I do not expect a miracle but only God can give me one, if He chooses to.