The Gratitude Method

I pray for selfish things.

• When I was 9 years old, after the preacher delivered a guilt-ridden sermon, I prayed: “Dear God, please forgive my sins so I can go to heaven.
• ”In my twenties when I doubted His existence: “God, if you really exist, send me a sign. Seriously, if you want me to believe in you, let the next person I see be a bald man (or something silly like that).”
• When my son was 5 months old, in the hospital and near death: “God, why won’t you PLEASE heal my son? He doesn’t deserve this. PLEASE take this illness away from him!!”
• At the lake when I really wanted to water ski: “I hate this wind. God, please make the wind stop.”
• In my thirties: “I’m late for work and need to leave now! God, please help me find my keys!”

Truth is, I am a self-absorbed supplicator.

As a child I was told that communication with God was done through prayer, but the style of prayer I was taught was not communicating. It was one-way — me asking God for something I wanted at that moment.

Prayer is an interesting exercise. An agnostic might characterize prayer as Positive Thought, as in, “I am quite certain I am a careful driver, therefore I will drive to work safely and without accident.” A monotheist might characterize prayer as true communication with The One Deity, as in “God kept me from being in an accident on my drive to work.”

Here is an intriguing prayer-concept that brought interesting results for me. It’s a story from my brother:

In the mornings while showering, my brother’s normal routine was to pray the “old way” — many supplications and requests (Supplication Style):

God, bring me the next job.
Please give me more money.
Let my children be safe.
Etc…

One particular morning a new idea of expanding consciousness struck him. He changed his routine and rephrased every thought that came to him, turning that thought into an expression of gratitude (Gratitude Method):

Thank you for the job I will get today.
Thank you for the money I have.
Thank you for the safe keeping of my children.
..and so forth…

The result of this experiment was remarkable. The days when he prayed Supplication Style turned out to be more stressful, less happy and less fulfilling. But the days he used the Gratitude Method went more smoothly, with less anxiety and more happiness.

The Gratitude Method is becoming a more common style for me and the results are remarkable, bringing me greater and greater happiness.

My life is more abundant.

I am physically healthier.

I am achieving greater things professionally and personally.

My relationships with friends, coworkers and family are deeper and more fulfilling.

No matter what your religious beliefs, here is my “prayer challenge” for you:

(1) Choose an outcome.
(2) Believe it to be.
(3) Take action. (This is essential!)
(4) Offer gratitude – as if your choice has already begun to manifest. (Most important.)

Tell me how it works for you

Inquisitively,
David Wine