I'm not sure I fully agree with this principle in the Ten Ways to Love. It assumes that praying [to God] is a necessary step in loving relationships. I think that too many times, people use God and religion as an excuse to slack off on personal responsibility. "It's God's will" can be an easy way to let yourself off the hook from taking blame or putting forth hard work. Not to say that everyone is guilty of doing this by any means, but I've seen it often enough. Right now I'm watching someone slowly destroy her life and her kids' lives by putting everything in God's hands and trusting 100% in an unrealistic miracle, rather than taking a logical and reasonable course of action. It's heart-breaking to witness.
I'm a true believer in reaping what you sow. I recently ran across a quote by Dick Van Dyke that I really love: "To live a life of love and compassion and to care about your fellow human beings and do no harm--I think that's a religion right there." So rather than praying, I will substitute contemplation, introspection, and self-evaluation without ceasing as principle #4 in the Ten Ways to Love. I will try my best to be a good, caring, loving person so that I'm worthy of receiving all the wonderful things that life has to offer in return.
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