Growing up, each of us, in one manner or another, were taught that prayer was a way to ask for what we wanted or needed. If we were born into a religious family, we were taught to pray before each meal in Thanksgiving for the food we were about to eat. Pray at bedtime for our safe arrival into heaven should we die during the night. And also to pray for all those we loved in order that they too would reach heaven in a safe and timely manner.
What I believe we were never taught was how prayer worked. How did saying a few words to a God that was so far and distant from our daily lives, going to bring to us what we were praying for? Not only that, many times we would pray for something and it would seem from all outward appearances, that our prayers were not answered, which turned the whole act of praying into something we did in order to make our parents happy.
Prayer for me is not so much sitting down and asking God that is far away from me, to grant me what I am praying for. Prayer is an acknowledgment in my ability to send out the desired outcome to any situation happening in my life, or the lives of another. It is KNOWING that by my intentions to bring healing to another, for example, will rise and meet all other intentions for that same healing and the healing will take place to the highest good of that person and their journey.
Prayer is not so much of an "asking" as it is a "knowing" that when a need is requested from the place of an open heart, life moves in and fills that void, no matter what the cause or who the person. It is our connection to life, our connection to God, our connection to our very hearts that are so powerful, that life just responses. Life exist to do just that, respond.
God is no further than our hearts. Gratitude is a silent prayer of Thanks. We are in a constant state of prayer when we are grateful, happy, kind and loving. Words are used in directing this state of being. Words are used to propel the power of our hearts into a specific direction or to a specific person. Words however are not necessary but being in a state of loving intent and being grateful that our intentions will manifest, is critical.
Using words in a formal prayer is a great way to direct our focus. To direct our intentions to what it is we wish to change or have. But it is just a way to direct our focus, it is not what brings about the change we seek. It is our intention, our loving appeal and our knowing that what is asked for will arrive in its perfect time and perfect way.
When we can direct our loving intent to every person, place or thing around us. Then prayer will be what we do naturally and words will be a thing of the past because what we set into motion when we pray, will be in constant motion all of the time.
Just loving you along,
Kathleen
Picture Credit; http://hannahscupboard.com
Growing up, each of us, in one manner or another, were taught that prayer was a way to ask for what we wanted or needed. If we were born into a religious family, we were taught to pray before each meal in Thanksgiving for the food we were about to eat. Pray at bedtime for our safe arrival into heaven should we die during the night. And also to pray for all those we loved in order that they too would reach heaven in a safe and timely manner.What I believe we were never taught was how prayer worked. How did saying a few words to a God that was so far and distant from our daily lives, going to bring to us what we were praying for? Not only that, many times we would pray for something and it would seem from all outward appearances, that our prayers were not answered, which turned the whole act of praying into something we did in order to make our parents happy.
Prayer for me is not so much sitting down and asking God that is far away from me, to grant me what I am praying for. Prayer is an acknowledgment in my ability to send out the desired outcome to any situation happening in my life, or the lives of another. It is KNOWING that by my intentions to bring healing to another, for example, will rise and meet all other intentions for that same healing and the healing will take place to the highest good of that person and their journey.
Prayer is not so much of an "asking" as it is a "knowing" that when a need is requested from the place of an open heart, life moves in and fills that void, no matter what the cause or who the person. It is our connection to life, our connection to God, our connection to our very hearts that are so powerful, that life just responses. Life exist to do just that, respond.
God is no further than our hearts. Gratitude is a silent prayer of Thanks. We are in a constant state of prayer when we are grateful, happy, kind and loving. Words are used in directing this state of being. Words are used to propel the power of our hearts into a specific direction or to a specific person. Words however are not necessary but being in a state of loving intent and being grateful that our intentions will manifest, is critical.
Using words in a formal prayer is a great way to direct our focus. To direct our intentions to what it is we wish to change or have. But it is just a way to direct our focus, it is not what brings about the change we seek. It is our intention, our loving appeal and our knowing that what is asked for will arrive in its perfect time and perfect way.
When we can direct our loving intent to every person, place or thing around us. Then prayer will be what we do naturally and words will be a thing of the past because what we set into motion when we pray, will be in constant motion all of the time.
Just loving you along,
Kathleen
Picture Credit; http://hannahscupboard.com
I actually grew up in a non-religious Jewish home. Prayer was not a word I ever heard until I was about 7 or 8 years old. But little did I know, asking for things was a form of prayer.
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