A prayer is a sincere attempt to know the mind of God and align with it.
Other terms for “God” are:
Reality,
The Truth,
The Way,
The Life,
The Universe,
Being,
The universe prior to any story
Any action I take in an open-minded and rigorously self-honest pursuit of a true understanding of, and communion with, what is, is “prayer.”
If I define prayer this way, it explains why it can seem like some prayers are answered and some are not.
If I define prayer this way, it would be entirely possible to recite a collection of pre-written holy-sounding words handed down through the ages and completely fail to pray.
If I define prayer this way, it would be entirely possible to beg God for something and completely fail to pray.
Prayers of these types are not answered because answers are not really being sought in any sincere way and so I get no closer to a true understanding of, or communion with, what is (which is all an answered prayer is).
When I fail to seek a sincere understanding, I fail to get what comes from understanding. It’s pretty straightforward. There’s nothing mystical about it.
“Ask and it shall be given.”
(And, if you’re not actually asking, can you really expect to notice a response?)
“Seek and ye shall find.”
(And, if you’re not actually looking, can you really expect to find anything?)
“Knock and the door shall be opened unto you.”
(And, if you’re not actually “knocking,” can you really expect anyone to know to answer the door?)