Let's get right to the point. You can ask for forgiveness and help in the same prayer.

Sometimes people think they have to be really good for God to notice them. Or if they are hoping for something big to come, they pray for God to give it based on how hard they've been working, how diligent and faithful. Or they think they can't ask for that big miracle since they haven't been faithful lately. Maybe they should promise to be really good. Maybe they should live really good for a while. Then they can pray. Maybe they have wandered or drifted from God or they recently did something they are really embarrassed about, and they think they have to log some good days before they come to God with that request.