Do prayers work?

So, as a man trying to be a good catholic, I believe Jesus, in the bible where he says "Ask anything in my name and you will receive it"

I have recently ( for the last few years, on and off ) been considering changing careers, working out what to do in life. I have been praying for it on and off. I decided to get a bit more serious, using a Novena. A novena is a prayer asking for something that you say for a given amount of times. eg usually you pray something for 9 days in a row, or 9 weeks in a row.

So I started 9 days ago. I have prayed the prayer every day. So today I get my answer.... right?

I am chronicling my day to see how it goes. Perhaps I am trying to see signs and signals where there are none. I look to see.

Wake up a little earlier than usual. Breakfast normal, start to walk to work.. Should I feel any different. I don't. Tired though. I get to the tube, will something happen to me? Will I decide that I hate the commute through busy London and just leave, like friends have done, like the guy in Office Space, like Douglas in Falling Down? I don't. I get off the tube, reading a newspaper. Will something in here tell me what to do? I notice a nice picture of a minor celebrity. Maybe I can draw her. I would like to draw and be artistic. Maybe that's my calling. To be a great artist. I decide to chronicle my day. Maybe I will be a great writer? I read Kreeft's work on Pascal on the tube.

I get to work. It starts normally. Will I be fired today? I have a presentation to give. My eyesight has been getting poor recently. Am I dying. Is that why I'm not excited about things to do in this life... is it nearing it's earthly completion?

So, it's 9:30 in the morning. A normal start to a normal London day. I'll report back later.

"I believe Lord, help thou my unbelief."