Prayer is personal, not a formula
Prayer works because God welcomes people into a real relationship with him. Jesus told his followers to pray privately to their Father, rather than performing prayers to impress other people. You do not need polished words, a special place, or the right mood before you begin.
God is not waiting for you to explain your situation perfectly. Jesus says the Father knows what his children need even before they ask (Matthew 6:8). Still, asking matters. It is a way of trusting God with what is actually happening in your life, instead of carrying it alone.
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.
Bring the whole of life to God
The Bible makes room for more than one kind of prayer. You can thank God for good gifts, ask for help, admit sin, pray for another person, or simply tell him that you are overwhelmed. Paul encouraged the Christians in Philippi to bring every concern to God with prayer, requests, and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7).
Sometimes the first answer to prayer is not a changed situation but God's peace guarding your mind and heart. That peace does not mean the problem was small. It means you are not facing it without God.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Does God answer every prayer?
God hears his people, but prayer is not a way to control him. John says we can have confidence that God hears requests made according to his will (1 John 5:14-15). This can be hard when we want a clear yes straight away. The Bible does not promise that every desired outcome will happen on our timetable.
Jesus does encourage persistence. He tells his disciples to ask, seek, and knock (Luke 11:9-10). So keep bringing the matter to God. Along the way, ask not only for what you want, but also for wisdom, courage, patience, and a heart ready to follow where he leads.
A simple way to start
Start plainly. You might say, “God, this is what I am carrying today. Please help me. Show me what is true, and lead me.” Then pause. Prayer includes speaking, but it can also include quiet attention to God, reading Scripture, and letting its words shape what you ask for.
If you do not know what to say, that is not a barrier. Paul writes that the Spirit helps believers in their weakness when words fail (Romans 8:26). Jesus also gave the Lord's Prayer as a pattern: begin with God’s honour, ask for daily provision, seek forgiveness, forgive others, and ask for protection from temptation (Matthew 6:9-13). Keep it honest. Keep coming back.