There is a book called "My conversations with God". Wonderful book. One of the concepts in the book is on the concept of thankfulness being the only correct form of prayer. I don't claim to be quoting the book or being an authority on it, after all, I read it years ago. I am just expressing in my own words a concept which I truly believe in.
God is all about belief. Some people call it realisation, but then all belief is a realisation in the view of the believer, so its just playing with words. God is about realising that there is no separate God, that all that I am is the physical realisation of the abstract form called God. Me, the physical form was created to enable the abstract God to experience one way of existence. Finally, there is no difference.
There can be only two states in belief - you either believe in God or you don't. The don't itself can have may states, but that's irrelevant here. So if you don't believe in God, what's the point in praying? And if you believe in God, then you believe that he is everything himself (excuse use of masculine), then you believe that he is the know-all and the designer and the progressor of all events and actions; and if you do believe this, what's the point in praying and asking for something? He already knows what you are going to ask, its after all he who is experiencing an emotion through you and hence it is he who is feeling the need for what you are about to ask. So why bother asking?
Then people complaint, our prayers go unanswered. That cannot be true. A true prayer cannot go unanswered. A true prayer is like God setting up a task for himself to do. Surely, if God sets up a task for himself to do, it will happen. What does not come true is a prayer without belief. What does not come true is a new-year resolution type prayer. When you make a promise to yourself to do something you are not really committed to, you never end up doing it. Similarly, when you pray without really believing in God, the prayer never takes the form of God setting a task for himself, and hence will never be realised.
A true prayer is a prayer of thanks. A true prayer says, "God, I know that you know what I am feeling and what I need. I also know that what I need will be fulfilled by you. You are the source and the end of all my needs and desires. So thanks for giving me these needs and desires, and thanks for fulfilling them.
And, by the way, thanks for giving me the wisdom to realise all this. Have a nice day, I'm planning to have one too".
