I've had many experiences that confirm this. Research it in scripture or experiment for yourself! Mousy prayers just aren't as effective. The way I hear most people pray these days brings up a question about verbiage. Compare the following phrases: "Bless us that we might..." "Bless us that we will..." Which do you prefer? On one hand, the word "might" is conditional and unassuming. You might say that this approach shows more respect and humility. On the other hand, the word "will" sounds more direct, strong and confident. I'm not telling you how to pray, I don't care which way you prefer, I'm just pointing out an example for your consideration. Personally, I prefer the direct, strong approach, and based on results and some of my favorite scriptural examples, I think God does, too. I think He's more likely to respond when we approach Him with boldness and confidence. I'm not saying that proper respect and humility aren't important, I'm just saying that showing these by using indirect wording is not important. Show your respect through your intentions and actions. Show your humility through obedience and trust. When we're instructed to be "bold, but not overbearing," I think that counsel applies to how we approach our Father and not just one another. Here are some more direct phrases to try out: "Grant us..." "Give me..." And you can even ask Him, after you've asked for something, whether or not He agrees and will grant your request. I just had another experience that reminded me of this point and thought it was worth sharing.