Prayer can take many forms. There is the set communal prayer; the prayer of the meetings. There is the private devotional prayer: the secret pouring out of our hearts to God in expressions and confessions we would not dare to utter before our fellows. There are short prayers for urgent help:
when the heart is overwhelmed with trouble. There are brief prayers of thanksgiving: when we are overcome by a sense of gratitude for good received. There are longer, more formal, regular prayers: the calling to mind of the goodness of Yahweh.

All are acceptable to the Lord. Consider the following examples from Scripture.

Ejaculatory (Latin for swift darts) prayer. Nehemiah specialised in these short prayers. It was habitual to him to insert a brief prayer into his diary (for his book is written up like a diary). Notice them: "Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people" (Neh. 5:19). "Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands" (Neh. 6:9). "My God, think Thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess, Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear" (Neh. 6:14). "Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof (Neh. 13:14). "Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy" (Neh. 13:22). "Remember me, 0 my God for good" (Neh. 13:31).

Christ used this form of prayer sometimes (Matt. 11:25). Stephen's last prayer was of this nature (Acts 7:6).

United prayer. In times of crisis, men of faith gathered together to specifically pray for Divine help. Christ makes reference to this type of united prayer in Matthew 18:19-20. Other examples are frequent in Scripture. Daniel called his friends together to consider a problem confronting them and to unitedly pray for help (Dan. 2:17-18). The disciples united together to give themselves un to prayer, prior to the bestowal of the Spirit upon them at Pentecost (Acts 2:14). The Ecclesia came together to thank God when Peter and John were released by the Jewish authorities (Acts 4:24). Again, it came together in order to "pray without ceasing" for the release of Peter, when the Herodian persecution broke out (Acts 12:5). Yet (typical of flesh) the numbers refused to believe that he had been released when their prayers were answered (v. 15)!

Personal Prayer. This is the most common form of prayer. In time of crisis, difficulty, pain or pleasure, God should not be left out of account. Prayer becomes the channel of personal communion with Him. On such occasions, when we urgently need help, let us recall past occasions when help has been given to us, as well as those instances recorded in Bible history. The same God Who opened the Red Sea, brought about the defeat of Amalek, and fed Israel in the wilderness, is able to extend help to us now.

On such occasions, be specific in requesting what is required: "with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6). Do not indulge in vague uncertainties at such a time. Pour out your heart unto the Lord, whilst also acknowledging that you are prepared to submit to His will in the case.