(How) Do You Pray?

Prayer was not something I was taught in school, Temple, church or even by my parents. We didn’t pray in my family. (Well, I may have prayed to the porcelain goddess once or twice in high school, but that’s not the kind of prayer I’m talking about here).

I didn’t truly pray for the first time until I was in my 30s, had two children and my own business. The first time it happened, I had been a solo lawyer for 9-12 months and I was struggling and scared. I was the family breadwinner. With two kids under 5 and my husband a stay at home dad without an income to support us, everyone was counting on me.

I knew very little about business, had limited financial resources and a history of lack and limitation mindset. I was constantly working to shift my mindset towards the abundance everyone talked about, but it was a major challenge. The fear-based conditioning was intense and I hadn’t been raised with faith in anything bigger than myself. The world was on my shoulders.

I recall standing in the hallway of my law office and praying “Please God let there be a time when I don’t have to wonder where the next new client will come from. Show me the way. Please, show me the way.”

With hindsight, I now see that was a turning point in my business and in my life.

Suddenly, I wasn’t focusing on what I didn’t have or wanted, but wasn’t getting. I put my attention on what I wanted (a steady stream of new clients) and I asked God to show me the way. I prayed for guidance and vision; not just the outcome.

Before that day, I had an idea that I was missing out on something big and important. I was a seeker. I studied one guru and then the next. Several of the masters – Yogananda, Buddha, Jesus. And many modern time lesser versions. I was certain one of them had the answers.

Turns out, they each did. So did I, only I didn’t know it. Now I do. What I’ve discovered since that day I begged God to show me the way is that all I have to do is ask for help and then stay open and my prayers are answered every time. The answer may not always look like what I expected, but it’s always better than I could have hoped for.

By asking for guidance rather than trying to control the result, I am able to tap into the Universal plan that was created for me and me alone. I am able to hear the still, small voice that is God speaking to me. And, I no longer feel like I have to do it all.

The answer to every single question you’ve ever had, every decision you wonder how to make, every everything that determines your reaction to a set of events, circumstance or situation, all of it lies within you. And you can access those answers right now through prayer. All you have to do is ask; please, show me the way, please! The answers will come.

In this moment, close your eyes, take a deep breath and make a conscious connection with God ….. Source ….. Infinite Energy ….. Love ….the Truth of who you are. Let awareness permeate your body starting from the center of your body and radiating up and out through your fingers, toes and the top of your head. You are the answer.

0 Comments

  1. platinumassistantsSunday, August 10, 2008 at 7:00 pm 

    Hi Alexis!
    What a wonderful post! The answer is in you when God is in your heart! He wants us to come to Him with our requests and He says, if we follow Him that He will give us the desires of our heart! I really enjoyed this post. This is something that I struggle with but am getting better at it and instilling the same in my children! God bless you!

  2. reelinvitationsSunday, August 10, 2008 at 7:33 pm 

    This is exactly what I needed to read today. Thank your for this post. It is so easy to spend my time feeling frustrated with myself. I know that it’s a useless feeling but so easy to fall into. This post reminds me it’s better to let go and open up my mind and heart. Thanks.

  3. davedee4Monday, August 11, 2008 at 2:31 am 

    So excited that I actually figured out how to leave a comment.

    Your post is dead on.

    I would only add that pray that God’s will be done. This is tough because it takes total trust and faith. Here is one of my favorite Catholic prayers. (Easily adapted to whatever you believe.)

    “Oh, Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul…I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what I should do…give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your will.”

    I love you, honey.

    David

  4. Bette CreekWednesday, October 8, 2008 at 2:42 am 

    Alexis,

    I love this post.
    I’ve been feeling frustrated lately for different reasons, and maybe I need guidance from above, but I need to ask for it first.

    Bette

  5. Ben GlassSunday, January 4, 2009 at 7:47 pm 

    Pray to give thanks to God for the many opportunities he sends each one of us. Thank Him to the talents and gifts he has given you. Honor Him by not keeping those talents under a cover. Show His love to the world by living big, using those gifts and by reminding folks where the gifts came from.

    Ben Glass

  6. Kevin BoonTuesday, February 10, 2009 at 3:04 pm 

    Hello Alexis,

    Love this post… praying is certainly something that evolves in our lives as we grow and learn. I like the idea of giving up trying to control and allow the process to unfold.
    Kevin

  7. Lee, Blogger's WorkshopThursday, February 19, 2009 at 3:50 pm 

    Alexis, thank you for this post. I’ve been a “seeker” most of my life too (and even gave a go at not seeking at all), so this makes a lot of sense to me.

    However you look at it, it’s a lot easier to focus on what you don’t want than what you do want… that’s where most of us go wrong, I think.

  8. Miguel GuskowWednesday, August 5, 2009 at 3:21 pm 

    Alexis, God bless you. I was searching for prosperous law businesses and you answered me all the questions that haunted my mind.
    Thanks God foi your life. I pray for your success.

  9. ArunSunday, August 9, 2009 at 10:48 pm 

    Hi I am glad GOD listened to your prayers…He has his own ways and not always in sync with what we want!
    So we can pray..and hope his plans are same as what we want

  10. platinumassistantsMonday, November 9, 2009 at 12:10 pm 

    Hi Alexis!
    What a wonderful post! The answer is in you when God is in your heart! He wants us to come to Him with our requests and He says, if we follow Him that He will give us the desires of our heart! I really enjoyed this post. This is something that I struggle with but am getting better at it and instilling the same in my children! God bless you!

  11. dawngoodsellTuesday, February 9, 2010 at 3:43 pm 

    Alexis,

    Thanks you so much for all you do. Your website is such an inspiration! I've been stuck in “Stinkin Thinkin” all day and this is just the gentle reminder I needed today! Thank you!

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