Prayer is not only talking to God, but also listening for His voice. Check your relationships, your attitudes, and your motivation. If your prayer life is being weakened by a problem in one of these areas, pray about that problem and correct it with God's help. Begin your Quiet Time by reading a passage of Scripture. Select and read a daily passage prayerfully, asking God to speak to you as you read it.
Praise is closely related to thanksgiving, but there is a difference.
Praise is adoring God for who He is. Thanksgiving is thanking God for what He has done. God is to be praised for His character. He is to be thanked for His actions. Begin your prayer by praising God.