Most of us have been there, or are still there. You're not alone. Don't fear, or become distraught. Rather, do what you just did; ask for help with humility. Seek God, for He is the giver of wisdom and works in us to will and to do. One correction - there are no such things as "dead facts" about God. Banish that from your mind and never let it return. Any fact about God is marvelous and gracious for God to reveal. I know what you meant by your statement, but trust me. Squash it like a cockroach at your daughter's wedding.
Don't expect to change overnight. This didn't happen overnight, and unless God does a mighty instantaneous work in you, He will do a mighty and well fought for work in you, which takes time.
Slow down when you pray. Stop and contemplate the incredible privilege you have in coming directly to the One true Creator of all that exists. Strive to be overwhelmed with the immensity of that. As Stuart's excellent post stated, "Pray until you've prayed." We often talk "at" God. Slow down and come to Him in humility and awe, talking directly to Him. Force your mind and will to come to grips with the reality that you are actually and truly talking directly to God. This is not something you deserve, but something made possible by God the Son, imputing you with righteousness so that God the Father can look upon you with satisfaction rather than loathing. Remember the sacrifice that made this possible and never, ever, take it for granted or approach it with any sense of apathy or with too much familiarity. You don't deserve it.
Force yourself to pray when you first wake up. Don't do it as a box to check off, but rather as an effort to remind yourself of the privilege and to orient your mind toward God. It doesn't have to be a long drawn out prayer, unless you prefer to. It needs to be a fervent and ardent desire to know God better and walk more closely to Christ. Do the same when you go to bed. Make it a point to make Christ your last focused thought every night and your first one every morning. If you wake up in the middle of the night, consider it a divine appointment to pray. Keep a prayer list in your Bible. I use a 5x8 card and write different categories in each corner, front and back. Then, if my prayer bogs down, I have a quick reference to things I know I must pray about. A prayer journal is a good idea too.
As has been said, learn how to pray the Scriptures. The Psalms are sometimes easier for people, but any Scripture can be prayed. Even the genealogies of 1 Chronicles can be prayed, if one slows down and contemplates the wondrous treasure we have in God's Word. Or, do we take that for granted too? Do we think portions are superfluous? Every word, jot and tittle is precious and to be treasured.
Do devotions with someone. If you're married, do them with your wife every day. If not, find someone; even if you have to do it by phone. In person is better, but do it. The reason you do them with someone is to help one another with application. You should be able to grow in self-application by praying through Scripture. But when you do devotions together with someone it helps make it personal, lends credibility and brings accountability to your walk. Find someone to sharpen you.
Pray before and after everything you do. I don't mean just before meals and bed time. Pray before you walk out the door. Pray before you write something. Pray before you interact with someone. Pray before you drive. Make it a habit to pray without ceasing and for every occasion. We fail to do this, in essence stating that there are aspects to our lives that we have under control. Or, we may not want to bother God with the "small things." In reality, such a statement is foolish in light of the fact that with God there are no "big things." God does all things for our good and no single action on the part of God is any more difficult than any other. He never expends energy. So, simply put, take it all to Him and squash any pride that might be lurking in any sense of self-sufficiency.
Again, pray after everything. We often pray before, but fail to acknowledge God afterward. Pray after reading Scripture. Pray after a meeting. Pray when you get to work safely. Pray when you get in an accident. Pray when things are great. Pray when things stink - they're still good (Rom 8:28). Pray after you eat. Pray when you get home. Again, pray until you've prayed.
Read of great men of the faith. Often the best to read in times like this are men who spent themselves as missionaries. Mueller would be good as well. These guys help us grow in faith because of their faithfulness.
Serve in your church. Make sure you are a slave of Christ, serving Him and His children selflessly. This will give hands and feet to what you're learning about God. If you're not putting action to your doctrine and walk then you're spinning your wheels. One of the ways we grow most in Christ is in doing what He did - helping and serving others.
Jesus is precious. If you cannot see Him as such now, pursue Him first and foremost as your overwhelming treasure. Know Him. Love Him. Serve Him.
All of these, together, will conspire to help you love God's Word like you never have before. May God grant you greater love for Him and a closer walk with the precious Lamb of God.