This is the only way I can explain it, hopefully it'll be clear. I don't understand all the workings. I just know that God desires a relationship with us. We are His creation, He wants interaction with His us, a true relationship. We pray, God acts, we don't pray God doesn't act. It isn't that God's on this string and we pull it and He does what we say. We pray within His will. If you don't know His will, read the bible, if things still aren't clear ask Him, you will get revelation and understanding if you truly seek Him and His will. When I'm not sure what to pray, I pray in tongues, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
If this all sounds strange to you, welcome to God's world. He is spirit and things are opposite then what they are on earth. Here, the world will tell you to horrid your money, put it away. If you don't have enough to give to someone don't. God says, give, and it will be given you, pressed down and flowing over. The world says, if someone is mean to you get revenge, hate the person. God says, love your enemy's. I could go on but, I think you get the picture.