ome of us offer a perfunctory list of things we’re grateful for, like passwords that open the door to Santa’s workshop, and then we present him with our lo-o-ong list of wants. We are praying a beginner’s prayer.
So what’s better? Maybe here we apply the realization that God is not simply running a repair shop. We want real counsel, real revelation, and we’ve done some legwork already, reasoning and thinking things through first. We’re willing to do our part to secure our hopes and dreams, to make wise choices. I think we’re in the “better” zone when we’re striving to make correct decisions and bringing them to a loving Father in Heaven, whom we trust will guide us. But our prayers are still about us.
Is there a best? I [author of article] think there is. Here are three prayers that will bring us into the “best” category:
- First, let’s offer prayers that express genuine thanks, praising God for his mercies and blessings. Let’s not cut that part short, but make it the entire prayer. With heartfelt humility, we should frequently acknowledge that all we have and enjoy, all we are, is due to Him. And then, just leave it there. Just be grateful for his boundless love for us, and his amazing mercy. Like the grown child who calls home to thank us, let’s not diminish the moment by tacking on a “by the way, I’m a little short of cash this month…”
“The most meaningful and spiritual prayers I have experienced contained many expressions of thanks and few, if any, requests.”
This prayer of appreciation may yield a surprising spiritual uplift. When I [author of article] first spent time on my knees just thanking God and expressing love for him, I felt such a rush of the Spirit that I cannot adequately describe the joy. It was as if the Holy Ghost were filling me from head to toe, letting me know I had pleased my Heavenly Father and the closeness I felt to my maker was astonishing. - The second prayer is one of repentance. Here we strip our souls bare, admit our failings, and resolve to turn from them. Here we share our anguish with a loving Father who stands ready to forgive, and to fortify us with strength for the battles of life. Sometimes this prayer accompanies the taking of the Sacrament. Sometimes it’s a prayer we offer just after we’ve lost our temper, unfairly judged someone, neglected a duty, or been selfish. None of us are perfect, and a prayer of repentance is one we should pray often.
- The last one is my [author of article] idea of the ultimate prayer. Instead of telling God what he can do for us, we ask what we can do for him. We make his goals our goals. We bring our own wishes into line with his purposes, and we offer ourselves as servants, ready to follow promptings and be useful in building the kingdom.
, “…prayers bring our desires and the desires of our Father into harmony, thus bringing us both the blessing we are seeking and also the blessing of greater unity with the Father. This practice is key to the collective and individual salvation of women and men.”
