“be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray” [I Peter 4:7(NIV)]

“be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray”. No good being taken up with an hundred and one other things if you want to be effective in prayer. You must be able to put out all the hindrances and temptations if you would wrestle in prayer with God.
If, like the church in John Mark’s house, you would pray Peter out of prison you must pray non-stop. If, like Elijah, your prayer is to shut up the heavens and then open them again, you must know what you are about and then exercise implicit faith that the Lord both hears and answers prayer.
When you’re clear it’s salvation you want you take a hold of yourself and cry “Lord save me”. When it’s help, enlightenment, or any divine undertaking and you recognise your need, you can pray believing and see God answer.