Here what you have is a means to express gratitude. You don’t pray to get something or you don’t pray for something. If there is something you truly desire, there is no other way of acquiring it other than first overcoming the barrier holding you back and just going for it. In many cases this barrier can prove to be illusive making people think that the only way to get ahead is to make a plea to a deity. From my experience, getting past the “barrier” mostly happens when you’re not aware of it and you just simply realize that your inhibitions, whatever they were, are gone. Overcoming these inhibitors is a process that you simply cannot initiate, and trying to will only lead to frustration. Knowing this can help you understand the drift to the respective deity.
Gratitude should come with having accomplished or acquired something. When you pray if there is something that you have and you truly appreciate, that is what you should express. In my experience, when you express your gratitude in prayer you tend to appreciate it more. It also increases your awareness of thing you have to be greatful for. There is a comfort in expressing your appreciation of what you have. There is an even greater comfort in expressing it to the God that you love.
A thanksgiving in my opinion is the only true and genuine prayer. Your appreciation delves deep down to the true meaning of your relationship with God.