Basic Methods: Prayer

The first two basic methods, or paths, discussed were positive thinking, in which one drives oneself toward the goals, and the law of attraction (LOA, a.k.a. intention), in which the universe itself is incited to bring good things to you. The third method, prayer, is very much like the second, but is instead a request of a higher power.

The threshold for believing in the power of prayer is higher than it is for self-motivation (which is pretty much self-evident), yet lower than the level of reason required to buy into LOA (which can seem rather silly at first blush). The list looks something like this:

You need a deity (omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent) who gives a rip about how things are going on Earth, cares enough about you to listen, and has the wherewithal and willingness to adjust things once convinced. We'll call this being God. (That's actually a title, not a name, but that's for a different article.) You also need a willingness to ask for what you want and to do it in a way that doesn't irritate the almighty. That asking is prayer.

Now, the difference between LOA and prayer is more than just where it's being directed and how you think about it. People uncomfortable with one or the other are very likely to pretend they are the same just to keep the peace or appease others' vanity. They are not the same outside of a very few issues. Most obviously, they are both appeals to something admittedly vastly more powerful than ourselves. In neither case should we assume or act like we are ordering this Power around. Gratitude, however, should absolutely be expressed and felt in both cases and for similar reasons.

The differences begin right at the root of the matter. LOA is a force of nature, like electromagnetism or gravity. It works as it does because of what it is, and it is no more animate than a candle flame: it may seem to be, but it has no actual opinion or desire (in the sense that living creatures have) and simply does what it does. God, on the other hand, is the very definition of awareness and consciousness, and gave all the natural forces - including LOA - their methods and abilities. You can appeal to God, argue with Him, even negotiate. You can no more argue with LOA than a mechanic argues with an engine. He may seem to, but it's an illusion.

The practical upshot of this appears when making one's appeal. To invoke LOA one must apply positive emotion, ideally joy, to a visualization of the desired outcome, and, if possible, experience beforehand the emotion one feels when the desire is manifested. You don't have to believe in it: it's a force of nature and will happen with or without you. You do have to feel it: that's how it works. Regret, fear, and similar feelings get in the way of it.

With prayer, on the other hand, belief is absolutely required but feeling that the prayer will be answered positively (it is arguably always answered; sometimes the answer is “no”) is not strictly necessary. This can cause a certain amount of confusion in the petitioner, since we intuitively understand that feeling something and believing it are strongly related. (This, by the way, further suggests that LOA is built into us as a basic understanding.) In the Gospel of Mark's 9th chapter, Jesus said to a man whose son was in dire straits, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” He didn't feel it and didn't naturally act as though the healing were possible; but he wanted to believe. His son was healed.

Prayer allows for an expression of the negative emotions and forgives the human weaknesses that the forces of nature are rather more harsh about. This is because that almighty, omnipotent deity cares for you. Tiny, foolish, totally insignificant you. Yeah, omniscience means there is nothing new in your pouring out of sorrows, but every good father knows what's troubling his child before she curls up on his lap and sobs out the story of her day. It's the telling that is the important part, and the asking. Even if the answer turns out to be, “No, there is a better way,” it builds the relationship. Which is what prayer is all about.