There is agreement that prayer is a means of speaking to God.

There is also agreement that prayer is powerful.

There are times when public prayer is referred to as a moment of silence, however, I think this is commonly known. Reasons for this vary yet it is always a moment of togetherness. It is a moment of unity. The silence is a show of respect even if you do not actually pray during it.

It is not a matter of when we pray but how we pray.

Prayer may be used to ask for things.

Requests are made for yourself and/or others.

How do you pray?

Is your answer to this question on the list above?

Maybe we haven’t given much thought to how we pray and I hope this post changes that.

I have learned another method and use it consistently. I call it asking through gratitude. You wonder how this differs from prayer used to give thanks. The difference being that instead of giving thanks for something already obtained, thanks is given for what is asked for. You see, the energy of God is always with you and around you. However, it depends upon your readiness to receive. In the example below, the second is another way of saying the first:

What is the difference?

The difference is that your readiness to receive is altered. Let’s break it down using the example. When you ask God to be by your side and surround you with his love, you wait for an answer because when questions are asked, we generally wait for an answer. This “waiting” state creates a hinderance to immediately feeling what is always with and around you. The opposite has been my experience when asking with gratitude. When you thank God for being by your side and surrounding you with his love, it is immediately received and you feel it. I believe the difference will be experienced by you as it has/is by me. This applies whether the thanks is for yourself or for someone else.

God, thank you for watching over me.

Thank you for watching over my family.

Thank you for your guidance and support.

Thank you for guiding and supporting my children.

It’s difficult to describe but a “comforting” sensation will be felt.

Take notice of how you pray. Prayer is never just words that are said.

Give asking with gratitude, declarations of gratitude and the invocation of the Holy Spirit a try.

May you find them as beneficial to you as I have.