(This comment is for busy mothers and others whose prayer time is frequently interrupted.)
Idealism. I often set up ideal standards for prayer: “I should pray for this length of time; I should pray without distractions; I should pray with this much intensity and frequency; I should pray with fasting.”
Then when my standards for prayer are not met, I discount my own prayers: “That prayer will not be answered because I was in a frazzled state of mind.”
Jesus said pagans (unbelievers in God’s ability in spite of our inabilities) think the way I think. Pagans think “they will be heard for their much speaking”. Matthew 6:7
But God sees our hearts! And God who sees the secret longings of our hearts will reward us openly.