Prayer is a topic I don't usually speak about publicly. Very rare occasions have led me to pray aloud or speak about it with others outside of my immediate family (even that doesn't happen often). Otherwise, it is something I lock away, only to take out when I am alone. I think that a lot of people are like me in this way. There are those who are vocal about their beliefs, who potently exude religion, there are those who experience spirituality in a more private, inwardly manner, and then there are those who choose not to believe in anything higher. I'm in the second group of people.
Since entering the realm of adulthood, prayer has become more second nature to me, something I do much more often than I used to. It is something I enjoy doing, rather than something I only do when I'm desperate for help. So, I thought I would put a list out into the world, or at least into my little blog, on why I pray.
1. It encourages me to reflect on my day.
I usually pray before going to sleep at night, after I'm warm and cozy in my bed and the lights are out. It becomes not only a moment of connection with God, but also a moment of deep connection with myself. In the few minutes I spend praying, I reflect on my day and the events that occurred.
2. It develops in me a strong sense of gratitude.
There is nothing I do that makes me more grateful for my life than praying. Though I am exposed to many wonderful experiences daily that lift my sense of thankfulness, they do not instil that quiet, peaceful, whole-hearted and overwhelming feeling of being completely blessed as when I literally say thank you for each one of them while praying. It is incredibly humbling.
3. It focuses the light shining on the path I've chosen to walk.
I've chosen to walk a path alongside and in loving relationship with God, to value my family deeply, to put myself out there to try to make a positive difference within my small sphere of people and my community. Praying focuses in on these choices I've made for my life and helps put the extra oomph in my drive to continue this direction.
I choose every day to pray. Whether it's before I go to bed, while I'm driving across the city, or at any other point through my day, its value to my life is undeniable. I love God with all my heart, and I feel blessed beyond belief for the life I've been given, but I think even if you don't believe in God or anything higher, or your spirituality is somewhere else on that spectrum, prayer is something you can still do. Maybe you wouldn't call it "prayer", maybe you'll call it something other, like a daily reflection, or you'll set aside a time every day to write down a list of what you're grateful for, but I really encourage you to take that step. It's amazing what a difference focusing your energy for less than five minutes a day can have.
