Merits of Dua
IMAM Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahim Allahu) said: Supplication and Prayers seeking refuge with Allah, are like a weapon, and a weapon is only as good as the person who is using it; it is not merely the matter of how sharp it is. If the weapon is perfect and free of faults, and the arm of the person using it is strong, and there is nothing stopping him, then he can lay waste the enemy. But if any of these three features is lacking, then the effect will be lacking accordingly."
The first priority of Dua is to get closer to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and secondly Dua is the means of getting one’s need fulfilled or warding of some evil.
Showing obedience to Allah and compliance with His commandments and refraining from doing things He has forbidden.
And when My servants ask you (O Muhammad concerning Me, then answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. (Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 186)
Anas ibn Malik (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “No Muslim supplicates to Allah with a Dua that does not involve sin or cutting the relations of the womb, but Allah will grant him one of the three things. He will either hasten the response to his supplication, save it for him until the Hereafter, or would turn an equivalent amount of evil away from him.'' They said, "What if we were to recite more (Dua).'' He said (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam), “There is more with Allah.” (Imam Ahmad)
Allah
loves from His Servants that they ask Him and that they turn towards Him and
that they manifest their destitution and lowliness in front of Him. And He has
made it a duty upon Himself to not send them back disappointed and empty-handed.
Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “Whoever does not ask from Allah, He become angry at him.” Ibn Majah, At-Tirmidhi)
Acknowledging that Allah’s knowledge encompasses all things. He is the All-Knower , the All-Seeing, Al-Wise. The choice of Allah for the slave is better than the choice of his slave for himself. HE knows what is best for us.