Jon, I'm butting in here, but what the...
I think most Christians would tell you prayers for things you want would probably not do much. Praying for the strength to get yourself those things would be better. A lot of what happens after that is up to you. (And yep, it's also up to other people, the way the world works and chance.)

I think there are some things I can affect and some I can't - I have to know what I'm capable of and try to do it. We all screw up - we're human. It's what we do with the failures that counts.

From this non-religious person's point of view, (another side heard from) praying to the devil wouldn't have got you any further, but could have resulted in you being in a worse position. It may look like it would have been better, but that's just because it's unknown - the grass is always greener on the path not taken. You'd have given in to thinking evil had power, justifying it, and feeling guilty. You wouldn't have the friends you have now, you wouldn't try to help people or even care about them, and you wouldn't be the kind and humor-filled person I know. Are the things you wanted and didn't get more important than who you are?