Of Picky Little Differences, Thin Ice, and the Power of Positive Thinking

Generally speaking, I am not a nit-picker. Yes, it's true that sometimes tiny details matter, like minus signs in algebra problems and decimal points in my bank balance. But whenever possible, and especially in matters of communication, I prefer let picky little differences go. Even if we don't have every tiny bit of grammar or nuance of vocabulary perfectly right, I trust that we can all understand each others' intentions and make meaning of what we are trying to say.

So when I read this devotion the other night, I was immediately put off.

In a nutshell, the writer suggests that in our prayers, rather than asking God for things, we should instead believe that He has already given those things to us, and simply thank him for what we have received.

Here's an excerpt to show exactly what she means:

State your prayers as affirmations:

• God is my Light and my Salvation (rather than “Be my light …”).
• The Lord of life walks with me (rather than “Please walk with me”).
• Healing Presence, you bring me strength (rather than “Please bring me strength”).
• I am a channel of God’s loving-kindness (rather than “Help me be a channel …”).

Hmm. Yeah. At first, the whole idea just sounded like a picky little point of semantics to me. At first.

But the idea intrigued me enough that I decided to give it a try. Really, what could it hurt me to try, right?

BAM. I noticed a difference immediately.

Suddenly, my usual prayer requests for what God might do:

please help this person,
please give that person your peace,
please bring your healing to this person,
please give that person your strength and protection

were transformed into prayer certainties and thank-yous for what God is already doing:

thank you for helping that person
thank you for giving that person your peace,
thank you for bringing your healing to this person,
thank you for giving that person your strength and protection.

This was not some silly exercise in semantics. This was a bold theological move that changes the way I see God's work in the world and the power of my prayers.

And now when I pray, I no longer feel like I am carefully sliding my feet out onto the thin ice of a frozen lake, unsure of whether God will support my hopes and dreams, or if His plans for the world will cause the fragile ice of my requests to crack under my feet.

Now I am sweetly reminded by my own words and prayerful thoughts that God is wayyyyy out ahead of me, and I can be sure that every step I take is strongly grounded in His love.