A 365 member asked me about prayer. I have not discussed this too directly, because honestly I feel uncomfortable talking specifically about my personal prayers. This is an intensely private matter and really should be. I am always really suspicious of people that brag about or talk to openly about their prayers. Consequently, I usually keep that to myself.
However, I can see some value in talking about how to make prayers or meditation routines more effective. So this blog post will attempt to address this topic. Perhaps others that are reading this have some great suggestions. Feel free to comment on this posting and perhaps we can all become better from hearing advice from others trying to keep this commitment.
The first and rather obvious way to improve your prayers is to actually have faith in God or some power greater then your own self. I think it is perfectly acceptable to decide to establish a meditation routine that does not necessarily require faith in God – but I do want to point out a few things regarding this that are critical. Keeping the 365 Commitment requires your prayer to be a conversation about what you are trying to accomplish and making commitments to get those things done.
Having a conversation with yourself is possible, but seriously concerning! I also think that a meditation routine or a religious chanting session are valuable exercises in their own rights – but I think a foundation of the 365 Commitment is the process of actually committing each and every day to God that you are going to do your best to accomplish your list. Memorized prayers, or repetitious phrases designed to clear the mind and focus you are great things. If you follow a belief system that encourages that – then please continue. However, there is also something very powerful about an individual having a very real conversation with divinity. Consequently, I highly recommend having a conversation with God or some “higher power” that you can imagine.
The interesting thing is that we all have an inner voice that talks to us and encourages us to do better, greater things. This is how we strive to improve ourselves and our situations. Some of us have gotten quite good and beating that voice down, or drowning it out with noise – but that voice is there. You cannot deny it. I have read many books on human psychology and I think I am on pretty solid ground with this concept. You can call this inner voice God if you want to, and have a conversation with that entity in prayer.
I choose to have faith in and believe that there is a God and that God is very real. I believe that this ultimate intelligence is tangible, that I could actually have a conversation with. Perhaps even shake hands with if God was so inclined. Believing that the God that I pray to is a physical being with a body, looks human, and has passions similar to ours helps me believe that God is a being I can relate to and actually would listen to me if I talked.
Your personal belief in God is your own thing, as well as how you decide to pray or meditate. However, here are some basic suggestions for prayer that I have learned from others and they have helped me:
- Prepare for prayer. Do not just start saying a prayer without knowing what you are going to say first. Think of it this way – if you were going to have a conversation with your boss about a raise – you would be really prepared for that conversation right? Well, if you are going to talk to the entity that created you, or at least formed your consciousness and ask that entity for a boon or gift – do you think you should think about what you are going to say before you say it?
- Do something different. Praying or meditating in the same condition that you would eat your breakfast, sleep, or relax may not put you in the right state of mind. Do something like kneel, sit cross legged with back straight, take a walk in a special place reserved for this purpose, find a closet that you will use – a secret place. The point is do something to put yourself into a correct mindset for prayer and meditation.
- Do more listening then talking. Many times when we pray or meditate will fill the void with a bunch of rambling nothings. We get caught up in saying the same thing repeatedly everyday. Rather then that – ask a question, make a commitment, or state a problem that you are having and just listen. Then listen some more. If you are going to pray – this is the time for inspiration. For thoughts to come into your mind. Let that happen and stop drowning out that inner voice with bunch of your own babbling.
- Basic Formula is fine and in fact good. The standard Christian prayer is to 1. Address God (or Father in Heaven, Heavenly Father, Lord, Etc) 2. Express Gratitude 3. Ask 4. Listen 5. Close the prayer with Amen or some other phrase. A formula helps you to remember important concepts and keeps you on track and helps you keep your mind from wandering too much. I would use a formula, but not be formulaic in what you say.
- But if not. This is my favorite phrase. When I ask for something, I always include this phrase. It reminds me that prayer is often times an act of willingness to submit your will to something greater then yourself. Reminds me that I am going to do the will of God, or the right thing if I get what I am asking for or not. For example, Father please bless me that I will be able to make a lot of money today, but if not I will continue to strive to be the best person I can.
- Be Real. It is acceptable to talk out your feelings in prayer. In fact it is therapeutic. The ultimate counseling session. Talk through the challenge, what are your emotions about it, what are you planning to do, what could you use help with? What are your real ambitions, what are you afraid of, what is the worst case scenario? Take the time to work out how to align your will, and what you want to accomplish with what you think God would want you to do.
Not every prayer will be perfect. Believe me I have had plenty of my fair share of quick 30 second meaningless prayers. However, I promise that if you spend the time and really allow yourself to have an open and honest conversation and ask for help where help is really needed to accomplish great things – you will see amazing benefits.
Prayer works. There is a reason that humans have been practicing this ritual for over 10,000 years of recorded history. There is a reason that every culture has some form of this practice. The more you put into the process of each morning praying over your well thought through list and praying at the end of the day on how well you did, the more benefits you will realize.
Guy Reams (74)
365 Member
