Praying is an integral part of our lives. Every morning, before starting the day, or before commencing any task, we are taught to pray.
But how should we pray, and what should we pray for? Have you ever paused and thought about your prayers? We have been brought up to pray and ask God to give us what we want, need, or like. If we are about to travel, we pray for it to be safe. Before starting any task, we pray for its success. There is a wide range of our demands depending upon how we want our life to be.
A businessman will pray to get that lucrative deal. For a student, prayer would be to get good grades, and a wife will pray for her husband and family’s well-being. In essence, we pray to God to ask for something. We give a wish list to God stating what we want for ourselves and those close to us and pray to Him to fulfil our desires and demands. If something from that wish list doesn’t get fulfilled, then we say that our prayers weren’t answered.
We need to pause and think. When was it that you looked at what you already have and are grateful for it or even thanked God for what we have already achieved? Our main objective of praying is to seek what we don’t have now and what we want in the future.
It would seem that we are lacking something in life every day. We are not contended with what we have or are thankful for it. We have this desire to acquire more. The biggest drawback in prayers these days is that a lot of us use it as a reminder of our shortcomings rather than reminding us to be thankful for what we have and share that with others.
On the other hand, seeking a “good wish” is a method in which you tend to look at the brighter side of life. Good wishes are more like blessings – they teach us to give and not merely to ask. If you look at how you pray, you will find that your prayers are asking God for something. It is time to rectify this and start praying for everything that you have. There is always something to be grateful for.
Prayer should be a reminder for you to be thankful for the treasures that you have, not merely wealth and riches, and be grateful for them. We need to strive to be in a state of abundance as God created each human being in his own image. Be his image and share what the Father has already given to you.
Be thankful and try not to ask every time you pray. Honour the blessings bestowed upon by God.
Courtesy: Rajyoga Meditation Center, Kingston (meditation courses and counselling are offered free of charge). Email: kingston@jm.brahmakumaris.org [2]. Or follow on Instagram: rajyoga_meditation_jamaica