Can prayer be meaningful?: Feeling the presence of god

Abstract

Tefilla presents, for me, the most formidable challenge I face as someone trying to be a responsible and committed Jew. The sheer repetitive nature of the required text - three times a day, at least, every day, without any break - often makes it hard for me to muster even a small measure of authentic feelings. I am familiar with the three-fold division of the weekday Amida– giving praise, stating requests, and articulating thanks – but I find it hard to express these sentiments, even on occasion, with any degree of sincerity. How is it possible to recite the same exact words thousands of times and identify emotionally with what is being recited?