I think someone somewhere has said, "We pray not to change God’s mind, but that we might be changed." Often prayer does this; it helps us to see where we, in Ghandi’s famous words, can "be the change we want to see in the world." But sometimes we pray out of longing and pain, simply because we need to be heard by someone who loves us unconditionally, cares about us eternally and offers us peace and comfort through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is not an exact science; it can arise from us at any time, and be practiced at specific times. We can use a set form of words, or simply groan incomprehensibly. There will  always be questions about how God answers prayer, and this page does not exist to address them; simply to encourage you to take a step into God’s presence and experience his love.