If you really want insight on how to pray - read James chapter 4. It is eye opening to say the least. What comes across loud and clear is how important it is to pray motivated by a deep desire to seek God and not for selfish reasons. The Bible says in James 4:3, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” When you pray, seek God with your whole heart - in other words, pray earnestly asking Him to reveal what is best for you and then listen for the Holy Spirit to answer. Too many times, Christians pray with specific demands on exactly what they want God to do for them - but not for the right reasons. There are some who haven’t prayed in years that will fall to their knees as a result of a painful experience but instead of praying for healing, strength or comfort - they ask for revenge on their enemies or a miracle to restore their loss. James 4:9, says, “Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.” Lamenting is simply expressing your sorrow before God - without self pity, but with real acknowledgement of your weakness and need for a Savior, pleading for God’s divine intervention in your life - however He sees fit! James 4:10, talks about the importance of praying with humility, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” It can be a humbling experience to knock on God’s door, to admit you need His help - but you have nothing to fear for it is at the foot of the cross that healing begins. Never be ashamed to ask your heavenly Father for help for He has promised in Matthew 21:22, “ And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive,” . . . Just remember to pray with a pure heart.
Luke 11:9 KJV - And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Matthew 7:7 KJV - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
John 15:7-8 KJV - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.