Judaism has always emphasized the need to praise and thank Hashem before making any request. Genuine prayer consists of praise, request, and gratitude.
Here's well-known example:
"Hey, God...You're Great!
Can I have some food?
Thanks!"
And while the Shlah Hakadosh's most famous prayer is that said for the welfare of one's child (particularly powerful when said on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan), there is another very short prayer he wrote to enhance the success of one's task (Tefillah L'Hatzlacha). It works for any endeavor and regardless of how insignificant your errand is, Hashem always wants you to turn to Him for literally everything, no matter how minor.
Some of my kids and I have said the following before embarking on a trip to the grocery store, buying new shoes, getting a haircut, or preparing for a child's bar mitzvah. And while there are never any guarantees, we've found that this little prayer seems to smooth out potential wrinkles and add extra assistance.
Here's well-known example:
"Hey, God...You're Great!
Can I have some food?
Thanks!"
And while the Shlah Hakadosh's most famous prayer is that said for the welfare of one's child (particularly powerful when said on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan), there is another very short prayer he wrote to enhance the success of one's task (Tefillah L'Hatzlacha). It works for any endeavor and regardless of how insignificant your errand is, Hashem always wants you to turn to Him for literally everything, no matter how minor.
Some of my kids and I have said the following before embarking on a trip to the grocery store, buying new shoes, getting a haircut, or preparing for a child's bar mitzvah. And while there are never any guarantees, we've found that this little prayer seems to smooth out potential wrinkles and add extra assistance.
הֲרֵינִי רוֹצֶה לֵילֵךְ (למקום פלוני) בִּרְשׁוּת ה' יִתְבָּרֵךְ וּלְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ. רבונו שֶׁל עוֹלָם: בְּדִבְרֵי קָדְשְׁךָ כָּתוּב לֵאמֹר: הַבּוֹטֵחַ בַּהּ' חֶסֶד יְסוֹבְבֶנוּ. ה' אֱלֹקִים אֱמֶת, תֵּן לִי בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֶׂה יָדַי, כִּי בָּטַחְתִּי בְּךָ שֶׁתִּשְׁלַח לִי בְּרָכָה, וִיְקוּיַם בִּי מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב "הַשְׁלֵךְ עַל ה' יְהָבְךָ וְהוּא יְכַלְכְּלֶךָ", אָמֵן
Behold, I want to go to [state the name of the place you wish to go] with the permission of God, may He be blessed, and for the sake of His Name. Master of the World, in the words of Your Holiness, it is written to say: "Loving-kindness will encompass the one who trusts in God." Hashem, God of Truth, grant me blessing and success in all the deeds of my hands for I trusted that You'll send me blessing, and may it be established for me as is written: "Cast your burden upon Hashem and He will sustain you," Amen.
I know you might be thinking, "Seriously? 'God of Truth, grant me blessing and success...for I trusted in You that You'll send me blessing' before getting a haircut? Or going to the supermarket 'for the sake of His Name'?"
Really?
Yes! It sounds like that's overdoing it, but it's actually what Hashem wants. And it seems to work out pretty well. So go for it!
________
Related Links:
Tefillah L'Hatzlacha
Tefillat HaShlah for one's children (can also be said daily until the the part in bold, which mentions that the continuation only appears in the first printing of the Shlah's siddur)
Who was the Shlah?
Really?
Yes! It sounds like that's overdoing it, but it's actually what Hashem wants. And it seems to work out pretty well. So go for it!
________
Related Links:
Tefillah L'Hatzlacha
Tefillat HaShlah for one's children (can also be said daily until the the part in bold, which mentions that the continuation only appears in the first printing of the Shlah's siddur)
Who was the Shlah?
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