How do we pray?

I recently caught an episode of Brothers & Sisters. It's a family drama. Such a rare treat these days to be able to sit down and watch a show.

Anyway, one of the stories in that episode was about a son (Justin) being enlisted to join back in the war in Iraq. He is a combat medic.

As he prepares to go back to war, he decides to "say good-bye" to his family members by spending individual time with them doing the things they love. E.g. Joining his gay brother in a musical, even though he hated muscials, offering to go with his mom to a museum to catch a particular exhibit.

However, one day in the kitchen, Justin gets into an argument with his mom about his gestures of saying good-bye. The mom insists that when he says good-bye, he is referring that he may not ever come back. And because of that, she refuses to go with him to the museum, and in that sense, she refuses to let him say good-bye to her.

She wants her son to believe that he is going to come back, just like she strong believes he is going to come back from the war. But, he is unable to do so, because he knows the danger and risks involved, and knows there is a possibility he may not return.

This made me think about the attitudes we carry when we pray. Some pray like this mother. They strongly believe, and they are going to pray that one way. That the son will return. They will entertain no other thoughts or possibilities. Others pray like the son, knowing the dangers and uncertainties, cannot believe that he will certainly return.

I wonder how exactly does God intend for us to pray. Do I pray with great faith and believe for what I hope will happen? Or do I pray also knowing the real possibilities of things going a few different ways? I don't think I have the answers, but think a hybrid model should suffice for now.