Changing my prayers.

I used to practice pointing out specific things I was grateful for. My health. My friends or family. My possessions. Etc. My many blessings. I would look to the positives of my life and remind myself to appreciate them.

I’ve stopped doing that. It was beneficial in the moment, but didn’t account for my future where anything can and will happen. Time changes all and everything I love right now will one day be different if I’m lucky, or entirely cease to be in more unfortunate outcomes.

I found fear governing my life with those prayers. Even if everything was great. For how long would they be? I had no way of knowing and wished dearly for the beautiful things to remain so when that’s just not how life works. There is a famous quote. “He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears.” -Micheal de Montaigne

Now I just say, “I am grateful for my opportunities to give love today.” I do not point out anything in particular as that would introduce the negative feelings that come with eventually losing it. So if I catch myself doing this, I correct it, and say I would love with or without that thing. I practice only being grateful for the love I can give no matter what.

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GoFish · 41-45, F

i haven't been saying prayers for years.. i need to start 😬

Mamapolo2016 · F

A really interesting post about humans and prayer.

I’ve never seen prayer as a transaction. I don’t think I need to explain every detail, because I believe God already knows. I weary quickly in public situations where somebody verbosely explains everything from weather to politics to a Being they claim to think is omniscient. They aren’t praying. They’re preaching to the audience. That may be useful, but it’s not how I define prayer.

On the other hand, how people pray is none of my concern. It’s not my business. The Bible suggests a prayer closet, a private encounter with the Divine and a mortal. I like that. Sometimes I pray for strength, for my own understanding to deepen. And whether we say it or not, our comprehension of the universe is not the important part. It’s “Thy will be done.” I won’t pretend that’s easy. It’s not.

For those of us who seek a relationship with God, it’s not a two-way street. It’s a Teacher and a student.

Catastrophe · New

I'm grateful that I'm alive today but I know I will not always be grateful every day. It's just the human condition, I think.

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Reject · 31-35, M

@Catastrophe I may not be grateful for specifics such as the death of a loved one, but I can be grateful for everything they meant to me and keep that meaning with me forever. So grateful I remain in the bigger picture. Despite it all. I could do the opposite and choose to be very ungrateful. Whatever I say goes. Either way, I can be right. I just prefer to be right in more positive ways.

Catastrophe · New

@Reject You do you.

Reject · 31-35, M

@Catastrophe Likewise! I ditto that.

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