What's missing in most prayers?

Attitude is everything. That's a quote we hear a lot in sports, in life, in the business world even in Christians living. If that is so then attitude is a very important part of prayer life. Each morning I pray for my day that is ahead, I pray for the specific people who are sick and I pray for my family and our needs. I then read a devotional and read portions of the sermon I am going to preach the following Sunday. Then, I go on and type out my blogs and get started with my work day at the BEtty Griffin House. At lunch hour most days, some days I go after work at 3pm. But regardless of time I go and pray over our care list at the church. I pray specifically for each member and regular attender in the church, I pray for their specific needs and for God to use them in our ministries. I then pray for the church and its needs and for vision in my dealings with the church, and for God to guide me and my steps all along the way.
I do this somewhat automatically and I have to pause some times and make sure I am focused on teh prayer and the studying and not just going through the motions. Because if I am just going through the motions then I am not following what the Psalmist shares in chapter 5
Psalm 5:3 says, In the morning,O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
So I would ask you these things:
First of all, are you praying in a way that you fully acknowledge that God is listening intently. He isn't just hearing a voice and some words, he is listening as it is a conversation with your Creator.
Secondly, are you laying your requests before him? Are you truly laying all the things that are on your heart before Him? I make sure that I know my heart and my attitude before I start praying and reading the Word because I want to make sure I dump my heart out completely in my prayer time.
Last, are you doing the first two steps and waiting in expectation. Do you pray for things expecting to see them happen? Or do you pray simply expecting to be praying for those things forever? We as Christians are believers, the word most commonly used in teh new testament was beleivers, if we are believers then we better be believing in the power of prayer.
So pray each day, lay your requests before God and then wait expectantly. You see, attitude really is everything when it comes to your prayer life.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!