We look at it differently, obviously. If I steal $20 from you, and say I’m sorry, you can certainly forgive me. You’d probably want the $ back. Of course, we can’t repay God anything because everything is His. However, we can make a gesture. Prayer, being of free will, is probably the best gesture we can make.
I’ve had money and property stolen from me. In one the person was in real need, so when they were caught I helped them further because they needed it, and I did not press charges, either. But using human level transgression is falling far short of the reality that is the Righteous God. We cannot achieve ANY righteousness without His Spirit. He came to Calvary so what we absolutely could not do could be counted for us by believing in Him and His Grace toward us.