Prayer
The Mightiest Force in the World
By Kathy
So many people are suffering in the world. In fact, the majority of the world's population is suffering, either from illness, poverty, troubled relationships, or any number of other maladies that plague humanity in these critical times. Enter COVID-19.
But here is some good news! It doesn't have to be that way! We have enormous, unused power within us that is just waiting to be unleashed... This power is commonly known as prayer.
There are many different kinds of prayer and many different ways to pray. Does anyone ever ask you to pray for them? Or as some say: "send positive vibes". Actually, this might be a more accurate and more powerful "prayer" than a more formal, rote prayer. Did you know that your thoughts can be prayers? The thoughts that you think all day long, whether you are aware of it or not? Thoughts and words carry ENERGY and POWER. They can be compared to electricity.
The Bible says, "Pray without ceasing". How do we do that!! Yes, we can do that or Jesus would not have told us to. When I was a child I asked a wise Christian lady how she prayed. She was always telling me that she did a lot of praying. It seemed like she prayed for everybody and everything! She said, " I pray all day long... my thoughts are my prayers." Her answer left an impression on me. Since then I have read many books on prayer, "mind" power, and positive thinking, and I realize that she was right.
It can be a lifelong "project" getting into the habit of "praying without ceasing". What are some steps you can take? Be aware of your thoughts. The real you inside (the "inner witness") can observe the "thinking" part of you... the activity of your brain, including the imagination, interpretations, reasonings, reactions, ponderings, wonderings, and so on. When you catch yourself THINKING or saying anything unkind, destructive, or negative, immediately STOP and substitute a kind and positive thought.
Then there are prayers of thanksgiving and praise. I once heard someone being asked how they prayed. Their answer was that they never asked for anything, but gave thanks for what they already had. And we all do already have everything we need. We just need to REALIZE it and "claim" it. Scripture says that faith is the substance of things unseen.... the SUBSTANCE. Faith is substance.... think about that.
Prayer is also and mainly communion with God. It is awareness of God's presence... sustaining a higher consciousness as we go about our everyday lives, and trying to live a contemplative life. And prayer is RECEIVING what we already have....what is already existent in the unseen realm.
Prayer is too great a subject to cover in one short article. I wish I could give you a "magic" formula. I hope I have given you a few things to think about. Above all, I urge you to pray. To pray any way you can; in whatever way feels right and effective for you. We need it now more than ever. So pray and keep on praying and thinking "positive". Prayer is the mightiest force in the world.
The Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The Canticle of the Sun
St. Francis of Assisi
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, honor and blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong;
no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
We praise You, Lord, for all Your creatures,
especially for Brother Sun,
who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
of You Most High, he bears your likeness.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Moon and the stars,
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
We praise You, Lord, for Brothers Wind and Air,
fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Water,
so useful, humble, precious and pure.
We praise You, Lord, for Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night.
He is beautiful, playful, robust, and strong.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Earth,
who sustains us
with her fruits, colored flowers, and herbs.
We praise You, Lord, for those who pardon,
for love of You bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
by You Most High, they will be crowned.
We praise You, Lord, for Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in their sins!
Blessed are those that She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.
We praise and bless You, Lord, and give You thanks,
and serve You in all humility.
Prayer Chain for Peaceful Stability
by Patricia Monroe
You are a person with unique talents and spiritual gifts who can indeed make positive, calming changes through peaceful means in the world today. All it will require of you is affirmative prayers and thoughts.
With so much volatility imploding worldwide today concerning fearful economic forecasts through news related reports, it has become imperative to counteract this negative spiral. Because fear self-perpetuates, each time a pessimistic report is presented in any form to the public, volatility increases as people and businesses alike make reactive fear based choices to what seems to be an all encompassing resonance of fear laden shock waves.
However, it is absolutely not necessary to despair because there is indeed something we can do in these times of negative chaos. Each of us has within his or her own uniquely created divinity to individually hold fast prayerful intentions of stability. When we positively control our thoughts in order to facilitate transforming, healing directives in the world, even at an individual level it will make a difference. At a level of mass collectivity, the positive difference will be even more profound. It will make a difference!
“When two or three are gathered….” Matt. 18:20
Advanced science today through the study of quantum theory is examining resonance fields, meaning forms of energy that radiate outwardly from individual thoughts and actions, made stronger and more far-reaching by the collective effort. When a resonance field reaches a certain point in quality and quantity, it becomes a morphic resonance field, thereby facilitating changes within the universal population. Therefore, thoughts of stability, courage, and love through peaceful efforts intended with world wide effectiveness done by many individuals are not only possible, but probable when done with the intentions of calming fears in the current world wide economic situation. When resonating from a large group of people, they will indeed serve as a counter balance to the current fear-laden instability.
This is not a new concept at all. In troubled times over two thousand years ago, Apostle Paul described it well in Phil 4: 6-8, 12-13. “…whatever is true, whatever is honest, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think about these things.”
I invite you to participate any way you feel called, as often as you feel necessary during the day for the weeks and months ahead through positive visualization, prayer, and affirmation. Be the calming, loving stability you wish to see in the world today. That is all that is necessary.
Together, we will indeed make a positive difference.
A large collective of people with similar intention will indeed bring balance to these volatile times. It starts at the individual level, one person at a time. It is most important that you participate. Thank you!
Anyway
by Mother Teresa
People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
People may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have.
And it may never be enough.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It never was between you and them anyway."
Prayer for the Gifted
Lord, I am grateful for all You've given me, for all the gifts that I have.
Help me not to be critical or scornful of those with different gifts.
Help me not to despair when it seems I've been given more than I can
deal with. And guide me, so that I may use my gifts for the increase
of Your glory. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
In the Language of the Indian Sages
Our Father in Heaven.............The Source of our Being
Holy be your name.................Lead us from un-holiness to holiness
Your Kingdom come.................... From fragmentation to wholeness
Your will be done on earth as in heaven..............From conflict to harmony
Give us today our daily bread....................From time to eternity
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us................. From sin to grace.
Do not bring us to the test....................................From duality to unity
But deliver us from evil...................................... From darkness to Light.
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