Is there a method of praying that really works?
YES!

Live Love Laugh supports the knowingness of God regardless of which religion or spiritual practices you may prefer. There is no attempt here to encourage any change in your religion. There is already too much separation between those of differing beliefs and it is hoped that you know that your beliefs and affiliation are fully respected here. If you have a method of prayer that works for you, that's wonderful. If you would like to use this method, that's wonderful too.

Live Love Laugh believes the 5-step prayer detailed here is a wonderfully powerful technique. It has been used for decades with miraculous results. At first, we had thought of not mentioning the particular religion that teaches this method since you might think we're endorsing one religion over another-- but credit must be given where credit is due. Besides, the founder of this religion, Ernest Holmes, studied religions all around the world to find what worked-- he searched for common threads of truth that crossed the borders of various belief systems. So in actuality, this method of prayer taught through the Church of Religious Science is a composite of wisdom from a multitude of religions and spiritual practices.

The only enhancement we have added was connecting the steps to hand motions so that children in Sunday school could remember the steps easily. These hand motions were created by Cliff Durfee. When the children went home and showed their parents how to pray using the hand gestures, they saw how much it helped in learning the steps. Then adults started using the technique and showing it to others because it allowed it to be learned in several minutes and remembered forever. The hand movements aren't necessary especially after one remembers the steps, but so many have found them valuable they are included here. You may want to use them at first and then remove them like bicycle training wheels once you have the steps well established.

The 5-Step Prayer

Step 1 - Acknowledge that God is everywhere.

Hand Movement: Hold your hand out in a fist with your thumb pointing up. Move your hand in a horizontal circle.

Say: "God is everywhere."

Description: Acknowledging and knowing that God is everywhere in the universe, is the first step.

Step 2 - Unify with God.

Hand Movement: Hold your thumb and first finger together.

Say: "I am one with God."

Description: Since God is everywhere, God is around you, through you, in you and is everywhere present. You are a part of God. You are a cell in the body of God. You are an individual expression of God.

Step 3 - Accept.

Hand Movement: Add your second finger to your first finger and thumb and touch your temple while closing your eyes.

Say: "For the highest good of all concerned, I accept and know this is true for me in my life now. I accept and know that I have (whatever it is you wish to have or have happen) and I see it in my mind's eye right now."

Description: Picture what it is you're praying for as currently happening in the present and see yourself enjoying the gift God is giving you as if it is taking place at that moment.

Step 4 - Give thanks.

Hand Movement: Add the ring (third) finger to the thumb, first and second fingers, turn it up facing the sky and move your hand up and down several times as you give thanks.

Say: "I give thanks for this."

Description: The 5-step prayer is a positive prayer. Its very essence is to know that the prayer has been acted upon and is true. Therefore, since this is so, you naturally feel relieved and grateful and give thanks.

Step 5 - Release.

Hand Movement: Add your little finger to the others that are still pressed together, lower your hand slightly and act like you are tossing the prayer into the heavens while letting your fingers release their imaginary hold.

Say: "I release this and let it be. Amen"

Description: It is important to release your prayer, until you pray again, else your mind may introduce doubt and negative thoughts which act to cancel out the prayer.

And then what...

The rest is up to you. First you listen within. And, though you have prayed, the answer to your prayer may, and probably does, involve action on your part. It may even involve others as well such as doctors, other professions, friends, or relatives. Now that you know the prayer is working, it is up to you to look with anticipation of all the possible and perhaps obscure ways it might be brought forth to you. The answer to your prayer may be right in front of you, the challenge is to be open and recognize it. Listening to your inner voice is the key.

Your 'involvement' with God through prayer leads to a gift beyond the actual demonstrations. It leads to a level that picks up where faith brought you-- it leads to 'knowing' God on a personal level. This allows many to rise from a belief that God exists to a true knowingness that God exists.

Beyond the basics ...

Have you heard the saying, "The answer to your prayer is in the prayer itself" and wondered how that could be? One answer is the only real problem we truly have is our own misconceived perception of our separation from God. Prayer actually reconnects us with God and that is actually more valuable than anything we could pray for in the first place. When you go to sleep at night, try doing just the first two steps of the prayer. It can lead to a very peaceful sleep.

The five steps as previously described are the basics and can be done in less than a minute. However, part of the power of a prayer is in "feeling" the connection with God, "feeling" the truth of what you're affirming, and "feeling" the acceptance of it happening. Therefore, to get into more of the feeling, each step can be expanded, embellished and enriched with deep conviction, emotion and visualization.

Though we may want to do this enhanced version of prayer for those things we consider "big" or "important", experience tells us that God makes no distinction between big or small. If the "big" things seem a little harder to bring about in our life, it's usually because it's harder to believe and visualize them actually happening. Convincing your own mind through meditation, visualization, deep feelings, love and gratitude is valuable in going beyond the basics.

Example

Here is an example of an expanded five-step prayer of a person wanting to get their book published. Try to make each prayer different and be creative however, if done the same way using the same words some of the deep feeling can be lost. See if you can identify the unique steps. Notice that the prayer is done in first person, present tense and it affirms what is wanted as though it is already true and manifest.

"God is everywhere, in my home, my body, trees outside, in the clouds, the sky, the stars... God is in all things and is infinite. As I feel this wonderful presence, the love in my heart expands and there is peace flowing throughout my body. I know I am one with God and every cell of my body rests within and is connected to God. Knowing my connection and oneness, I speak and know the truth about my life now and accept the following things in the highest good of all concerned. People all around the world are seeing the Truth about who they are and Love, caring and Harmony is spreading as fast as thought. It is being revealed to the masses that it is important for everyone to be fed, educated, sheltered, and have the opportunities for living a free life, be healthy and pursue happiness. The world is Harmonious, Peaceful and Supportive of all living things. It is a safe place, it is a wonderful place, it is a place where Spirit can creatively express in physical form. T his fills my heart with love and joy. As I speak these words I know that my prayer is answered as the words spring forth in joy and appreciation. I am so thankful for this and I release this affirmation of prayer into the Universe to be creative and swift. I let it go and let it be, and so it is. Amen."