One kind of prayer is the traditional prayer of asking—hoping that something can be gained or changed. Another form of prayer is the prayer of recognizing— recognizing what and where God is, and what we already are and what we already have.
The first kind of prayer starts from the basis of lack or discord and asks that this situation be corrected; the second starts from the basis given in the first chapter of Genesis—that man was created very good, in the image and likeness of God. Being the reflection, or expression, of Spirit, God, the real man lacks nothing, and is in perfect health and harmony.
It was the prayer of recognition that Jesus was praying when, while Lazarus was to human appearances dead, he said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me."John 11:41; Before the physical senses could acknowledge it, Christ Jesus must have been spiritually seeing the already present, living perfection of his friend Lazarus—the image and likeness of God. Then Jesus called Lazarus forth from the tomb.
