Y e l l o w H a m m e r

Modern western man finds himself feeling slightly rediculous at the idea of praying.
To what ? To Whom? Proove it ! nothing exists unless someone can proove it so why would I speak to it !
Actually a whole lot exists outside the scientifically proovable, simply because devising an experiment to proove otherwise seems out of scope. ...and even if the meaning is only in your heart or imagination, that doesnt make it invalid, but potentially all the more powerful if it encourages self belief and ignites action and good attitude within.
Stating dreams and wishes and intentions out loud is a type of affirmation exercise that takes you one step closer to achieving, by sharpening focus and preventing mental drift into worry cycles.
This is not the same as assuming a deity wants you to behave in a particular way as written or told by other people - or that the powers that be will automatically help in the expected way - more that they will be able to present you with better options or opportunities perhaps. It is still up to you to notice and take chances. And if you are feeling empowered rather than battered and withdrawn, you stand more chance of recognising and acting on new opportunities.
Praying for a new car wont work, but may be you'll be presented with a new friend who happens upon conversing to reveal they're looking to get rid of their old banger...better than nothing?
Praying for strength is a good option - sometimes it feels like a helping hand up a mountain is required. Things aren't flowing. May be help to get unstuck from a merry go round, or just to reset and refocus.
Stating Thanks outloud is also valid. It puts good vibes out there which are badly needed.
And heck, if you want to light a candle or josstick, is that really a childish waste of time or an extra sign of commitment to a better future..? It just means you take your existence seriously. Lighten up Modern Westerners is Yellowhammers basic plea...believe the unbelievable !
I was told once as well that the spirit world if you believe in one is NOT allowed to help without being asked out loud - I suppose that is the whole point of humans having free will - according to Christian mythology prevalent in our culture's past, we left the garden of Eden to stand on our own two feet and determine our destiny, but that doesn't mean we are cut off completely - I mean, who hasn't ever rung their parents up to ask for help once or twice since flying the nest ?

Here are some cool prayers to the spiritual parents , ancestors, the great source - you can adapt.

The "Druid's Prayer" or "Gorsedd Prayer" (Gweddi'r Orsedd) is composed by Iolo Morganwg and is still a staple in the ritual of both gorseddau and Neo-Druidism.
Neo-Druids sometimes substitute the words y Dduwies ("the Goddess") for the original Duw ("God") found in other versions.

The below version is that usually adopted by various druidic groups, notably the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) albeit in a different fashion.

Llyma weddi'r orsedd o Lyfr arall
Dyro Dduw dy Nawdd;
Ag yn nawdd, nerth;
Ag yn nerth, Deall;
Ag yn Neall, Gwybod;
Ac yngwybod, gwybod y cyfiawn;
Ag yngwybod yn cyfiawn, ei garu;
Ag o garu, caru pob hanfod;
Ag ymhob Hanfod, caru Duw.

Duw a phob Daioni.

The Gorsedd Prayer, from another Book
Grant, O God, Thy protection;
And in protection, strength;
And in strength, understanding;
And in understanding, knowledge;
And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice;
And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it;
And in that love, the love of all existences;
And in the love of all existences, the love of God.

God and all goodness.

The Serenity Prayer is the common name for an originally untitled prayer by twentieth century American theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr. The prayer has been adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs.
The best-known form is:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Neo Pagan Nature prayer

To Honour in gratitude and Thankfulness
Mother nature for all things *
The Birds, The bees
The flowers and the trees
The four leggeds , the crops, the children
The waters and the seas.

[* Many things..?]

Kids Prayer for Samhain

Samhain is here, cold is the earth,
as we celebrate the cycle of death and rebirth.
Tonight we speak to those through the veil,
the lines between worlds are thin and frail.

Ghosts and spirits in the night,
magical beings rising in flight,
owls hooting up in a moonlit tree,
I don't fear you - and you don't fear me.

As the sun goes down, far to the west,
my ancestors watch over me as I rest.
They keep me safe and without fear,
on the night of Samhain, the Witch's New Year.

The Lords Prayer - a constant - being one who came from a culture where this was learned by heart, it provides simply an opportunity to relax into something unchanged for many decades - so a contrast to the ever changing present - also some good statements about how to live properly.

Our Father
Which art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven (as above so below)
Give us this day our daily bread (protect our crops)
and forgive us our trespasses (expressing sorrow at harm caused)
as we forgive those who trespass against us (we are all one)
And deliver us from evil (help us resist bad intentions and actions of ourselves and others)
For thine is the Kingdom
The power and the glory
For ever and ever
Amen

To keep things simple, one could just go East and OM quietly on the bus...
And in The beginning was the Word - and the word was God.
[Genesis 1:1]

If one takes God to mean Creation, then many Eastern religions believe that the OM or AUM sound produces the right vibrational sound for creation - OM is the sound of the universe coming into being...then by uttering the sound outloud one is producing the Word - or the Sound of God/Creation.
http://video.about.com/hinduism/What-Is-Om-.htm

Buzzing in the back of one's throat is a shamanic bee exercise that also produces feelings of strengthening.

Praying to God seems like giving power up, but actually one could think of it as surrender of ego - like the hanged man in Tarot (Jesus?) , the Priestess (Maintaining balance) , the Hochmar emanation of Wisdom (Kaballah) or in the East the Third Eye Chakra - seeing beyond the visible to the eternal power of the source point. Keeping oneself below a higher power is not subordination per se , but actually a good way of gaining perspective of the bigger picture without oneself at the centre all the time...and thus increases unity conciousness making one more powerful, not less.
Don't believe me ? Try it out sometime when you have run out of all other options - you may find my mishmash of quasi religious cherry picking helps.