This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Seeking Wisdom" by Julia Cameron. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
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How do you pray to God? Is there a wrong way to pray?
There are many ways to pray to God, but there’s no wrong way. Julia Cameron, the author of Seeking Wisdom, says that you should speak to God in whatever way makes you feel comfortable.
Keep reading to learn how to pray to God in your own way.
Talking to God
Cameron explains that once you’ve created your image of God, you must figure out how to address and pray to God. How do you pray to God? We’re often instructed to address God formally, using phrases like “Dear Lord,” and to pray with rigidly prescribed words or hymns. However, Cameron says that you should address and pray to God in whatever way makes you feel most comfortable.
You can speak to God with formal titles and prayers, or you can call God “Dude” or “Mama,” for example, and speak to God conversationally. Maybe you pray while driving, hiking, or cooking. Maybe you pray best while connecting with nature or singing. There are endless ways to pray. Explore and do what feels best.
Is There a Wrong Way to Pray?
While Cameron says that your concept and name for God should be whatever feels comfortable for you, Rick Warren seems to disagree. In The Purpose Driven Life, Warren explains that one of the most important aspects of conceptualizing and praying to God is accuracy—adhering to the image, characteristics, and name of God that’s prescribed in the Bible. He explains that to do otherwise is false worship, since your image of God may not match what God is actually like.
However, Warren’s recommendations for how to pray are very similar to Cameron’s. He explains that you should worship God in a way that feels good to you and reflects your personality. The strategy you use doesn’t need to be from the Bible—the only requirements are that you’re passionate and authentic. For example, Warren says you can sing, dance, confess, kneel, shout, or make music.
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- How to channel your spirituality into your creative endeavors
- How to begin communicating with the divine
- The types of prayers you should practice
