I don't think you "adapt the Gods to your needs" - for example, I don't think you can take Anpu and turn him into an obedient puppy dog because you like the "Ooh! Puppy!" aspect but don't have any stomach for the fact that he is the god of the Underworld. But if you are needing guidance or assistance in something like a legal matter, for example, petitioning Ma'at for her guidance would be something to consider.
As for me, I started out in paganism by studying the Norse gods. I am Norwegian by heritage and was looking for a connection to the Divine after I lost my faith in Christianity. I enjoyed the myths and stories, but didn't feel a deep connection to them. For the longest time I just viewed Divinity in the archetypical "God and Goddess" without envisioning specific aspects or names or entities. When I ended up in a group that honored the Egyptian gods and felt like I had "come home". I have had some deep connections with Bast, and while my self-esteem isn't strong enough to say she has "claimed" me (because I don't feel worthy of being claimed, but that's another issue), I do honor her as my Matron Goddess. Even when I left the group and turned my back on paganism for several years, I was still aware of Bast and missed that connection. I tried researching the Greek pantheon and looked for a connection there, but never really felt one. And when I returned to learning about the Egyptian pantheon again, I again had the sense of "coming home"...even though it was around ten years after I left the group.
My advice? Don't force it. If there's a culture or pantheon that seems interesting to you, read about. Or them. Learn about the Gods and Goddesses, but if you don't feel a strong draw to any one in particular yet, it's okay to address The Lord and The Lady, IMHO. It may take a while.