Article: Before you ask God for anything else, you should ask for his forgiveness for your sins. Look into your heart and find the areas where you need to improve, then ask God to forgive you for falling short. Ask God to give you the strength to do better in the future. Sins don't always have to be big things like stealing or lying; sometimes they might include being jealous of a coworker, being unkind to your sibling, or prioritizing material things over your relationship with God. Say something like, "God, I know I said I wouldn't get so mad when a customer says something rude, but I have been struggling with that lately. Please forgive me for not keeping my temper, and help me find the strength to stay calm next time." No matter what you're going through, you should ask God for help. God wants us to seek him first in every situation. However, keep in mind that God knows what is best, and his answer might not always be what you had in mind. For example, if you're struggling financially, praying "Please let me win the lottery" might not have the results you want. However, if you pray something like, "Please send me an opportunity to use my strengths and provide for my family," you might be surprised what happens. On the other hand, God might have ordained that you don't need a lot of money, so a better prayer might be, "Lord, help me be wise with my finances so I can make do with what I have." You could also pray for your health, your relationships, guidance in a tough situation, or anything else you could possibly need. When you see a need in others, ask God for his help. It might be someone close to you, or it could be a group of people on the other side of the world who are suffering. Praying for others is an important way to strengthen your faith. For example, you might say something like, "God, my aunt is really ill, and it's causing her so much pain. Please send her some comfort and peace, and let her feel your presence." You could also say, "Lord, my heart is heavy for the people at war in the Middle East. It seems like such a huge problem that no one can fix it, but nothing is too big for you. Please bring peace to that region and to all of your children." God speaks to us in ways that can be hard to spot, especially if you're just beginning to build your spiritual relationship with him. Ask God to help you recognize the signs that he is answering your prayer. It's important to have a grateful heart while you're praying, so opening and closing the prayer with thanks will help keep you in the right spirit. Thank God for listening, and for the good works you know he still has in store.

What is a summary?
Ask God to forgive you for your sins. Tell God your troubles and ask for his help. Pray for people around you who are struggling. Ask God to help you understand his answer. Thank God again, then close the prayer.