Prayer is a mystical supernatural experience, so any attempt to hard wire the process can be challenging. However, there are some clear biblical principles that cannot be violated. The most important one for me is that the primary purpose must not be seen as transactional but relational. This post by Bob Russell is helpful:
“There are reasons why prayers are not answered, even though I get a little impatient with super-spiritual saints who leave the impression that they have a deeper grasp of prayer than most. Such folks teach that if other believers just understood God’s Word better—or had more faith in prayer—God would answer all their requests. They would never suffer illness or poverty again.”