The wisdom behind prayer, meditation, and gratitude
By Firoozeh Bowden
Regardless of if one is a religious person or not, in order to thrive in the material world, we need to stay connected to the life force that created us to thrive. As our bodies (the vehicle we use in this realm) need blood to constantly circulate in our entire body to bring oxygen, water, and nutrients to every cell so we can survive and function properly, our souls (our true self, our higher self) need the Divine Energy to constantly flow through our energy body to bring us the love, knowledge, wisdom, inspiration… and so much more that we need to grow and thrive.
It doesn’t matter what language we use, it’s all the same! We can call the unknowable being, God, Allah, Yahweh, Jehovah, Brahma, Ahura Mazda, Gaia, Universal Soul, The source, and many, many, more. When we call onto that power to commune with us, we open our hearts to receive the Divine Energy that is always surrounding us. God does not need our praise and gratitude, but in that state of mind, we allow ourselves to connect with it. Our daily lives seem to go much more smoothly, with clarity, balance, and focus that we need to function and make important decisions. It is much easier to deal with everyday crises when we realize we are not alone, and there is so much help available to us, if only we trust, have faith, and allow… This is why it’s important to start each day by connecting to our creator through prayer and meditation as well as spending time in nature. It is equally important to end each day by remembering everything we are grateful for receiving.
We can use our own words to connect or use words from any Holy Book that seem to put it much more eloquently. I offer you these three that feel very potent to me from the Baha’i writings.
By Firoozeh Bowden
Blessed is the spot, and the house,
and the place, and the city,
and the heart, and the mountain,
and the refuge, and the cave,
and the valley, and the land,
and the sea, and the island,
and the meadow where mention
of God hath been made,
and His praise glorified.
– Bahá’u’lláh
O God,
Guide me, protect me, make of me a shining lamp and a brilliant star.
Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful. – `Abdu’l-Bahá
Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding! – The Báb