Praying is an art. Yes it is a conversation with our maker but effective prayer comes from praying the Word of God in the Spirit. It is a difficult concept to grasp. It took me some time to understand and it took me a lot of time to experience the outcome of effective praying. But sometimes the results are immediate and life changing.
In the Bible, Jesus has given us a model for praying. The model is not based on a certain set of rituals that must be avowed to in order for divine audience. Rather there are several steps that lead up to the effective means of submitting a petition to God. Let us focus on the model that leads up to it all, which is sometimes erroneously called the Lord's prayer as given in the Gospel of Matthews (Matthews 6: 9-13). The error lies in the fact that Jesus never prayed these exact same words but rather set and example before His disciples for them to later follow.
The act of praying starts with two simple exercise: recognize who God is and recognizing who you are is respect to God. That allows you perspective. Perspective allows a person insight into their own motives. The following is an analysis of Jesus' model prayer as studied through Westminister's Shorter Catechism.
The preface of the Lord's prayer
The preface of the Lord's prayer, which is, Our Father which art in heaven, teaches us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father able and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others.
The first petition
In the first petition, which is, Hallowed be thy name, we pray that God would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he makes himself known; and that he would dispose all things to his own glory.
The second petition
In the second petition, which is, Thy kingdom come, we pray that Satan's kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.
The third petition
In the third petition, which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, we pray that God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.
The fourth petition
In the fourth petition, which is, Give us this day our daily bread, we pray that of God's free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.
The fifth petition
In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, we pray that God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. (Mark 11: 24-25)
The sixth petition
In the sixth petition, which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted. (1 Corinth 10:13)
The conclusion of the Lord's prayer
The conclusion of the Lord's prayer, which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen, teaches us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power and glory to him. And in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen.
Putting the above in practice our prayers may become an elaborate task. The task is further complicated by a thumb rules that we are taught in our preliminary Catechism classes identified as ACCTS:
A-Adoration
C-Confession
C-Claim
T-Thanksgiving
S-Supplication ----(1) Intercession
(2) Petition
Honestly, it makes you want to sit at home and whine instead of praying. However every component of prayer has a particular purpose.
Adoration puts into perspective who you are praying to.
Confession allows you to own up your shortcomings and be cleansed by His grace.
Claiming the promises of God gives you the assurance that there will be answers to this prayer.
Thanksgiving focuses on your faithfulness in the power of prayer.
Intercessionary Supplication allows you to put your own needs into perspective after you have put the needs of others first.
After all this when you place your own petition in several instances you may find that you already have all you ever need or that you need to ask something greater or more difficult. And while praying you need to know his will and what better way than to know His will through His words. The Bible provides 7000 promises. And the almighty God is willing to give you more.
You are praying to an almighty God who treats you at par with His own Son, perhaps loving you more, loving you enough to sacrifice Him for communion with you. Think of that before praying and pray big and pray according to God's will as revealed in His word.