Biblical Answer

Step 1: Understanding the purpose of prayer

The purpose of prayer is not to get answers from God, but to have perfect and complete oneness with Him. Prayer expresses a fundamental trust that God will indeed answer the prayer, in spite of the supplicant's acknowledgment of sin. It speaks of an eagerness to learn and understand God's will.

Step 2: Why God doesn't answer prayer

God sometimes doesn't answer prayer because we don't really believe that He will answer. We may not be fully trusting in His sovereignty and power. We may not be praying according to His will, or we may not be praying in faith. Sometimes, the answer to our prayers is no, and we tend to insult God's intelligence by failing to consider the no as an answer.

Step 3: The importance of prayer in maintaining a relationship with God

Prayer is essential in maintaining an ongoing conversation and building an intimate relationship with God. Even if God refuses to grant our specific petitions, the most important reason for prayer still remains: maintaining an ongoing conversation and building an intimate relationship with Him. We should not be deterred from prayer just because we don't get the answers we want. Prayer can be a means of discerning God's will, and sometimes, in prayer, we have to be still and listen to God.

The final answer is: $\boxed{Prayer is essential in maintaining an ongoing conversation and building an intimate relationship with God.}$