A few years ago I wrote a prayer that's been circulating through the Internet for five plus years. I called it "The Prosperity Prayer," and I've received countless notes and letters from all over the globe about its effectiveness. One thing everyone likes is the instant payoff — when you read it to yourself, you'll feel better right away!

The Prosperity Prayer

Dear God -

I surrender my financial affairs and concerns about money to your Divine care and love.

I ask that you remove my worries, anxieties and fears about money, and replace them with faith.

I know and trust that my debts will be paid and money will flow into my life.

I have only to look to nature to see proof of the abundance you provide.

I release all negative thoughts about money, and know that prosperity is my true state.

I commit to being grateful for all that I now have in my life.

I learn to manage my finances wisely, seeking help where needed.

And finally, I ask you to help me to understand my purpose in life and to act on that purpose with courage and strength. I know that prosperity will come, in part, by doing work I love. Please help me use my skills and knowledge to be of service in the world. Thank you God. Amen

There is a great deal of research that indicates if you want to create a new paradigm in your life, repeat that "new thing" every day for thirty days. My suggestion for working with the Prosperity Prayer is that you say it at least once a day for a month. Say it quietly to yourself or out loud. Write it down on a slip of paper so you can read it when you begin to feel old worries about money arise.

Following is a more detailed explanation about the philosophy behind the prayer.

Dear God -

I believe that God is part of us, flows through us and animates the world surrounding us. We are programmed to receive God's wisdom. Do you have to believe in God for this to work? Not really. Simply know that your words are heard and expect an answer.

I surrender my financial affairs and concerns about money to your Divine care and love.

Surrender is a difficult concept for many of us to grasp. At first, it sounds as if I might be suggesting you simply "give up" in defeat or to "let go" and pretend that your financial concerns do not matter. Neither is true. The Wisdom that controls the universe has created the human body and all its miraculous intricacies. This same wisdom knows how to bring prosperity into your life.

I ask that you remove my worries, anxieties and fears about money and replace them with faith.

Many of us labor under the illusion that if we worry enough about money, we'll ward off debt. Nothing could be further from the truth. Worry, anxiety and fear create more worry, anxiety and fear. They don't create more money. I'd like to suggest you go on a 30-day worry-free diet. Become aware when you have fear-based and anxious thoughts. Remember the prayer and stop the worry.

I know and trust that my debts will be paid and money will flow into my life.

Here's a secret I've discovered in working with thousands of clients over twenty-plus years: there is tremendous power in images held in the mind. Those images (and the emotions they produce) begin to create the reality my clients experience in their lives. When you think about money, what pictures pop into your mind? Maxed out credit cards? Bag ladies? Overdue mortgage notices?

If any of the above sounds familiar, I'd like you to resolve to change these pictures in your mind. I'm asking you to accept much of this prayer philosophy on faith, but trust me when I tell you that those visualizations have a negative effect on your financial and emotional health.

I have only to look to nature to see proof of the abundance you provide.

Abundance is our natural state. We disallow this state through our fear and worry. We cut ourselves off from its flow.

When you begin to worry that there isn't enough to go around or that God only doles out a limited supply of material to a deserving few, look around you. Take a deep breath and let in all of the abundance. Breathe the air (no limitations on that, right?). Look at your immediate environment. What do you see? Depending on the season and where you live, you'll see leaves on the trees, snow on the ground, sand on the beach, grass on the lawns. Do you think God planned this amazing world and forgot to include the means for you to accomplish your purpose in life and to live your dreams?

I release all negative thoughts about money, and know that prosperity is my true state.

Your inner thoughts — what you say to yourself — make a big difference in your ability or inability to attract material wealth. When you consistently focus on negative thoughts you can count on attracting negativity into your life.

I commit to being grateful for all that I now have in my life.

There are two quotes that I absolutely love that relate to the issue of gratitude. The first is from Meister Eckhart, "If the only prayer you say in your life is 'Thank you,' that would suffice." The second quote is from the famous writer, Anonymous, who said, "If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy."

I learn to manage my finances wisely, seeking help where needed. It's been said that "God helps those who help themselves." This is especially true in the area of finances. In my work with clients, I've seen a clear correlation between how well they manage their money and their ability to attract more. If this is difficult for you, ask for help.

Please help me use my skills to be of service in the world. You have a purpose in life. It is the thing about which you are excited, the thing you'd love to do if only you had a few million dollars and didn't have to worry about money. When you are enthusiastic about something in your life, God is giving you a clue about the path to follow. The root of the word "enthusiasm" is from the Greek, "entheos." It literally means, "God within."

Thank you, God.

I know you are there to help me and I am grateful. Amen