Prayer is speaking with God. It's an opportunity to bring our will into line with God's plan. Prayer is an awesome privilege. Some Christians approach God meekly with heads hung low, afraid to ask Him to meet their needs. Other pray flippantly, giving little though to what they say. Approach God with reverence because He is our King, but also come with bold assurance because He is our friend and counselor. ("Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrew 4:16) Serious prayer required concentration
The bible speaks of religious leaders, wanting to be seen as "holy" and public prayer was one way to get the attention. There is a place for public prayer but to pray only were others will notice you indicates that your real audience is not God. Time alone with God was an essential of Jesus' life. ("Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed." Mark 1:35).
When we ask God's blessing, we're not asking for more of what we could get for ourselves. We're crying out for the wonderful, unlimited goodness that only God has the power to know about and give to us. ("You do not have because you do not ask God." James 4:2)
Jabez prayed to God because he wanted to be more and do more for God. He called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. And God granted his request.
God hears our prayers. He longs to give us so much more than we may have ever thought to ask for. ("Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God." Philippians 4:6)