Are you there?

Yes, we are here.

Today, I would like to talk about prayer. As you know, we had a question recently from one of our readers asking if prayer really does anything. This reader worries that “no one appears to be listening, much less responding. I’m sure that plenty of children and adults regularly pray their hearts out, but their suffering doesn’t end.” This issue of prayer and its effectiveness or lack thereof with regard to all of the suffering in the world is a serious concern for this reader and has even led them to question the existence of God. Is there something that you can say about prayer, especially as a means of intercession, that might help?

First, let us take a moment to talk about what prayer is. Prayer is communication, meditative communication, but it is also thought. And all thought is creative. Ergo, prayer is creative communication. When you communicate in a prayerful manner, whether you are communicating with God, with Source, with whatever you think of as divinity, you are creating.

In a religious context, though, prayer is more often seen as a request for something from a supplicant to an outside source of power. Millions and millions of people living on this planet believe that God is a source of power that exists outside of themselves, apart from themselves. The act of praying, then, becomes a plea to this outside power to change or heal or somehow make better a situation over which the one who prays feels they have no control, no power of their own. This is especially true in cases that involve serious health concerns or war or natural disasters. Life or death situations.

Most human persons feel a lack of their own personal power when it comes to serious, life-threatening situations. They become overwhelmed by what they perceive of as their own impotence. This is because they have forgotten that they are the creators of their own experience, so it is only natural that they look outside of themselves, to God, for a solution. And when they do not receive a direct answer, or the situation does not change for the better, they become frustrated and lose their faith in God and God’s power to effect change.

And in some cases, this situation leads to questioning the very existence of God.

Indeed. And yet, there is always an answer. Always. When those who pray do not hear a response, they tend to believe it is because their prayer has not been heard. But all requests are heard and granted. Always. That is how the Law of Attraction works. But the results of prayer depend on how the request is made and how open the individual is to receiving a response.

Could you clarify that please?

There are many factors at work with prayer. Yes, it is useful. Yes, it can be effective. But only if those who pray are open to having those prayers answered. And that is not always the case.

That makes no sense to me. Why would someone who asks for help NOT be open to help?

It all depends on what an individual believes is actually possible as well as what their view of the world is. For example, if you don’t believe in a higher power or you believe that a higher power is ignoring your prayers, then you are probably not going to allow an answer in. It also depends on how you are asking. If you say, for example, “Please, God, let there be no more war,” you are sending out a vibration of war and conflict to the Universe because that is where your focus is. As we have said before, you cannot uncreate something that already exists. That is not how the Universe or the Law of Attraction works. You are creators, not UNcreators. What you must do in a situation like this is shift your focus, pray FOR something and not AGAINST something. If you say instead, “Please, God, let there be peace,” and you really feel the peace in your heart, then that is the vibration you are sending out and that is the experience you are creating. Words are a fine way to pray, but ultimately, it is the vibration you send out that the Universe responds to.

This is more complicated that I realized.

It does not have to be complicated. Prayer at its best is a simple process. Just bear a few things in mind. First, remember that you are a creator. Prayer is just another means of creating, so it is always better to focus on what you want rather than on what you do not want. Second, remember that you are connected to whatever you perceive of as divinity. The divine is not something that exists outside of yourself. Your own Jesus Christ said it best. “The kingdom of God is within.” Third, when you pray, accept the fact that you can never fully know why another individual has chosen the experiences that they have chosen. What appears on the outside as painful or horrible or tragic may very well be, as difficult as it is to comprehend, a crucial part of that individual’s path to growth and expansion. So always pray for “what best serves” the situation or the individual rather than what you THINK might be best. Fourth, trust that with any request, there is never any judgment. The Universe does not answer your request based upon your value or worthiness. The underlying basis of Source, of the Universe, of God, is unconditional love, and that means exactly what it says – love with no conditions and no judgement. Finally, remember that the Universe is comprised of energy and functions vibrationally. That is how prayer is proffered and how prayer is ultimately answered. Vibrationally. Which means that what you receive as a result of prayer may not necessarily appear in the form that you expect. Again, the purpose of the Universe is growth and expansion. Whatever serves growth and expansion best is the form in which your prayer will be answered. So, remain open to all possibilities and trust in the power of the Universe. Pray, communicate in whatever manner you choose, and while you pray, allow your growth and expansion to proceed. For that is God’s plan. And yours.

This has been a very enlightening conversation.

We agree. As always, it has been our pleasure.

Thank you all.

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