Regarding prayer, I keep things simple by noting that the Lord’s Prayer begins with “Our Father.”
Interesting, because you're praying for others in the Our Father. Why didn't Christ tell them that these others should go directly to Him?:
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.