The Prayer of a Righteous Man

There truly are some hefty promises when it comes to prayer. If you read the gospels, Jesus sounds like he's saying, "Ask and you shall receive (period/full stop)". Well, I've yet to receive that million £s ($1.6million, for you US residents) I've asked for. In all seriousness though, when you look at what the Bible says about prayers and requests... why do we feel like we should offer a way out of God's promises by the ever pervasive quote, "God answers prayers in three ways, 'Yes','No', and 'Wait'". Who started that poppycock (I looked up the origins of that word just now and it made me laugh) anyways? It is in stark contrast to what is taught in God's word.
James seems to be especially revealing, when it comes to prayer. Check out these quotes...

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. -James 1:5-8(NIV)

So asking for something with the mindset that we only might receive it, is double-minded or unstable! That's something really to think about the next time you go to prayer! Pray with belief that you have recieved it at that moment you've asked (Mark 11:24)!
Ok, the reason I haven't received that Million £s yet is, well...

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.-James 4:1-3(NIV)

Well, that's spoken plainly enough. God knows I probably wouldn't be asking for a million £s just to feed the poor with it. Nope, honestly... I would struggle with holding some of it back for myself and we know what happens when you do that (Acts 5:1-11). And, it probably wouldn't do so well for my spiritual wellbeing, something I know God would consider harmful to me (Luke 11:11-12). So what sort of things should I pray for and expect to receive a positive answer?
If our heart is in the right place, then it will have a profound effect on the things we ask for in prayer. I think when it comes to spiritual maturity, God does bless us graciously. Things such as wisdom, like the first verse I quoted James earlier. But continuing on... what are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.-Gal 5:22-25(NIV)

So these things, if we pray for them, we should expect to receive at that very moment. I think it especially appropriate to pray for self-control when we feel we are being tempted.

"how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” -Luke 11:12(NIV)

We are guided by scripture to pray for several things: our government leaders (1 Tim 2:1-2), workers for the 'harvest'(Luke 10:2), all the saints (Eph 6:18), etc.
So there really is no limit to what we can pray for (Eph 3:20). It never hurts to ask. Just remember to have faith in God and trust that he will bless you with good things. Please don't mistake me for preaching a health and wealth gospel here though. But feel free to try asking anyways. If you listen to the prayers we offer up, we tend to pray that way anyhow... how much of our petition is for the health of friends and family, or sometimes ourselves? A good majority of it, I feel pretty safe in saying. But that's okay too...

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. -James 5:13-18(NIV)

It just amazes me that Jesus says plainly, if only we had enough faith, we could move mountains around or cast into the sea(Matt 17:20), whither trees (Mark 11:20-25) or replant them in the sea (Luke 17:6) on a whim if it takes our fancy. It's interesting that the only times Jesus wasn't able to perform miracles were in places where there was no faith in him. Maybe that's why we don't receive what we've asked from him.

Dear Lord my God and Heavenly King who created everything and sustains everything,
Your power and imagination exceeds all our requests. Increase our meagre faith in an age of scepticism. Allow us to glorify you with our prayers. Maybe that is why we have failed to convince the world of your mighty works. We lack the faith and neglect the time to pray. God again I ask, increase our faith. You freely give to those who ask and your riches are endless. There is no end to your treasures stored up for us. If only we'd just ask.
Thank you to Christ through which we can approach your thrown and boldly ask these things in His name. Amen.