Words I’m Loving – From Eat, Pray, Love

When it comes to asking things from God, I have always believed that we must trust his judgment and let him decide what is best for us. After all, we have a limited understanding and he knows the complete picture.

And therefore, in my prayers, usually (yeah, not always) instead of asking him for something, I simply ask for courage and faith to live my life as he’s chalked it out.

I came across this exact belief being discussed in a lovely book I’m currently reading, Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I’m still only at the first few chapters of the book but loved the discussion in the lines below:

“I explained to Iva my personal opinion about prayer. Namely, that I don’t feel comfortable petitioning for specific things from God, because that feels to me like a kind of weakness in faith. I don’t like asking, “Will you change this or that thing in my life that’s difficult for me"? Because-who knows?- God might want me to be facing that particular challenge for a reason. Instead, I feel more comfortable praying for the courage to face whatever occurs in my life with equanimity, no matter how things turn out.”

To this her friend Iva replies:

“Where did you get the idea you weren’t allowed to petition the universe with prayer? You are part of this universe. You’re a constituent-you have every entitlement to participate in the actions of the universe, and to let your feelings be known. So put your opinion out there. Make your case. Believe me-it will at least be taken into consideration.”

What is your belief ?– Do you ask or live in His Will or do you ask and then leave it up to to him to give should it be in your best interest or simply do neither.