Is it right to pray for specific things, or is it better to pray for God’s will?

This is a good question. At one level it appears to be more Christian to pray for the will of God to occur (as we see in the Lord’s Prayer). We know God is good and his will is good and it seems to be a safe and faithful prayer to ask for God’s will to be done.

However this is not the pattern of Jesus or the New Testament. The Bibles not only allows but commands that we pray specific requests to God.

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Colossians 4:2 - [ Further Instructions ] Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

And see the prayers of Paul

Romans 15:31 - Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there,

Ephesians 6:19 - Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

Prayer is a blessing of God. In the New Testament it is a blessing given to us by Jesus. We can pray to God our Father because of the work of Jesus. So we pray ‘in Jesus name’ to remind us of this fact. In my view we underestimate this privilege. If you look at John 14:13-14 Jesus says,
3And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

The privilege of prayer is foremost. Through the Spirit we can pray requests to God and trust not only God will hear them but he will answer them. Obviously a prayer in contradiction to the Glory of Jesus will be answered no. Moreover, some prayers will only be answered when Jesus returns. However, the power of prayer through Jesus to God the father is amazing.

Does this mean we ignore the will of God? No

Look at how Jesus prays,
Matthew 26:39 - Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Jesus asks God for something in prayer. It is a real prayer. He wants it. But behind the prayer is a trust in the will of God. That if God’s will differs to what he desired then he would trust himself to God.

This is robust prayer. Pray big prayers to God. Pray asking and expecting God to answer Yes. Pray in faith. Pray in thanks. But pray trusting that God’s will is better if it differs to your prayer.

So the answer to the question is pray specifically and continually. To pray ONLY for the will of God ignores the privilege that Jesus gives his children. We can pray, in Jesus name, through the Holy Spirit to the Father. I wonder if we pray realising this?