Prayer is a great need in our time.

Hello Rabbi.
Does a person who accepts your method and whose only reason for praying is because the Sanhedrin commanded so, fulfill a high need? Does the fact that God created a structure that requires continuing to pray even when there is no real benefit in the world presuppose a high need here?
In other words, is there a difference between observing Shabbat and praying a petition that the Sanhedrin fixed in terms of the value of the act?
Thank you very much!