Do any Christians claim there is there more merit in one's facing the east while making a prayer?
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And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. - Matthew 6:5-8
It's hard to imagine that this instruction includes facing east while in the closet. Also, in the many instances where Jesus is described as going off to pray there is no specification of directional orientation. However, each time Jesus' eyes are mentioned when He is praying, they are open and He is gazing heavenward (Mark 6:41; Luke 9:16; John 11:41).
There are plenty of folks who "feel" more earnest in prayer while kneeling, or lying prostrate, or with hands raised, or head bowed. There are plenty of people who "feel" more reverent in prayer using lots of words, certain words, or rote repetition. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with any of these things or with facing any particular direction. The danger lies in believing that such things add, as OP says, 'merit' to the prayer.
The only thing meritorious about any prayer is the blood of Christ which has opened up access for us to the Father (Hebrews 9). The veil separating us from God is torn and the child of God has full and constant access in the name of Jesus. Any prayer to God which relies less than fully upon the shed blood of Christ for merit is less than fully meritorious.
Therefore, facing East while praying may actually reduce 'merit' to the degree that directional orientation is relied upon to impart 'merit'.
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