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What I Pray For
By Christina Mulberry
The question has been asked, "what do you pray for?". It's kind of an odd question for me. I'm a life long, non-church attending person. Not an atheist mind you, but someone who is highly skeptical of organized religion. However, I did grow up believing in God, and in praying to him. I was never taught how to pray necessarily, although my mother, a Catholic by upbringing, had us kneel at bedtime to say a quick prayer until we were probably 8 or 9 years old. That was the full extent of my religious education. As a kid, I would pray most often at night. God was my confidante. I needed someone to talk to about troubles, someone to watch over my path through life. I needed someone to see me through. Now as an adult, I still find that I pray at night, when I have some solitude. My first order of business, generally speaking, is to be grateful. To be thankful for all of the gifts that have been bestowed upon me. I worked hard throughout my life like most people. I worked hard at school, at work, and at home. Many people have told me I've earned everything I have; a comfortable home, financial security, health, and so forth. I know this isn't the whole picture. I know that it's all been a gift. Nothing I have is a given, nothing I have could have been attained without some serious luck or divine intervention. I am more than willing to give God credit for everything. This prayer gives me a chance to have positive thoughts as well, as I think through all of the good things I have in my life. Even when things are taken away, I generally remember that it was a gift to begin with and try to be thankful for that. My prayer may then include a prayer for family or friends who I may be particularly worried about, or some personal matter about which I'm having anxiety. I don't know what I expect from this, but sometimes answers do come at this time as I think "what would He tell me to do?" I try to imagine what he might think. Often, the answer is I need to deal with the situation by...being more patient, holding my tongue, giving more, listening more, by letting go, by writing someone, refocusing on what I can do, not what I can't, and so on. God certainly doesn't speak to me, but at this time I may listen more clearly to my own heart. Perhaps that's Him. As I've gotten older, my view of the world has broadened and my interest in it as well. Thus, my prayers sometimes include a request for guiding the human race. A plea of sorts, which seems really odd to me. I don't like not knowing exactly what I'm asking for, but indeed, I don't. My prayer may simply be that he see us through an issue. On the other hand, it may be something general like asking him to help us all adjust our view or approach to something. For instance, to help us see that the world is our family, that the boundaries we make are imaginary. That yes, there is evil and danger as well, but we don't have to let that define who we are and how we live our lives. Indeed, why let evil win? Perhaps he can help us see that more positive actions can reduce these negatives. That for every individual that chooses a more positive approach, there is a victory. That perhaps we need to be just a bit less judgemental, steadfast, opinionated, rigid, defensive, or quick in deciding things. That we should spend more time living our beliefs and influencing, rather than judging and enforcing. That we should spend more time striving to do better, than in defending how we are. That perhaps we should question others, and yes, ourselves a bit more to get at the real truth, which may not be as simple or black and white as we assume. That we should listen more, and talk less. That we could understand that forgiving, changing our minds, or conceding a point isn't always weakness. The list could go on and on. I'll admit to feeling some guilt over praying for something so lofty and undefined. I feel ridiculous at times about such prayers, but then I realize, who else could you ask for such a thing, who else could grant it? If there is a God, then indeed, he is the only one who can truly handle such a request, whether he provides leaders or instills such things in our hearts. Then I realize, it's just like when I was a kid. I know he will listen to our troubles, watch over our path, and see us through. We just need to listen and take appropriate action. |
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Christina, nice Intel. I always think that the principles found in the Lord`s Prayer (or as some say the Our Father prayer) are a good guide too.
 | | odls Jan 19, 2010 10:06 | |
Good and thoughtful intel. I am not a believer in any religion, but I participate in spiritual practices. Right now, I have involvement with two groups who are meditating on the situation in Haiti and visualizing positive outcomes. When one looks around the world, there is no shortage of things to pray for, unfortunately.
God does respond to knee mail.
Thank you for opening up. I like how Qondio provides windows into other people's lives and tells you about things you normally don't get to know about.
 | | nick Jan 21, 2010 07:52 | |
Christina, Very nice article! I hope you have added it to your Squidoo Lenses. Might need a picture or two .. that won't be hard to get.
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This intel was contributed by mulberry
mulberry
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