Every day we face the same dilemma. One person wants one thing while another, with equal intensity, prays for the opposite. When two requests are contradictory, both cannot be granted. So like the builder, we need to ask what we should pray for. If we are confused about what exactly to pray for, we can still pray knowing that God is the One who can find the balance.
Prayer is far more than an expression of personal desires or a request for favors.
Part of prayer is listening to God for the right answers and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring our desires and wishes in line with the will of God, who already knows what it is that we truly need.