Prayer begins with faith and is subordinated to the will of God.
James M. Grier:
Prayer is an exercise of faith. It is based on need . . . not need with demand for personal security and fulfillment, but need enlightened by faith and subordinated to the will of God. God’s grace must intervene to meet the need.
Quoted from, Toward a Theology of Prayer, 10.
Isn’t it curious that often when you pray it doesn’t feel strange at all to talk to One you can not see, but be aware of the grace involved in the encounter. Must be a Spirit thing.