You might wonder which, if any, of the answers above is the right one.
Many people pray when they want something.
Their football team isn't doing too well on the field and they pray for a boost in the form of a win. They pray they might win the lottery because their current financial situation isn't very reassuring. They might even pray for something noble like a cure for their ailing mother or a new job for a long-suffering friend. Then there are those who pray because they think they ought to. They identify prayer with following the rules and being good and faithful.