Why Prayer?

Tell me your prayer and I’ll tell you who you are.

Our prayers tell us a lot about ourselves. What state of mind we’re in, what we’re feeling, what we’re lacking, who and what we love and care for, what we’re grateful for. What you pray for shows a lot about who you are, it’s a reflection of your inner landscape.

Why do we pray? Do we honestly feel that some omnipotent force will grant us our wishes?

I think not. I believe that the act of praying, of subjugating our egos to a higher spiritual force, actually connects us to our divine self, with the purpose of prayer and stillness being to open to the beauty within and allow space for that inner holiness to blossom.

“As a practice, prayer is the setting of an intention; it is not a plea, but a resolution, and that resolution takes many forms. Whatever that form, the psychology that underlies prayer issues forth from two fairly distinct perspectives. On the one hand, God, or the object of prayer, may be represented as an external construct of the ego, or something “out there”. On the other, God may be represented as an interior archetype, or something “in here”. “ 1

Those few moments of silence, of proclaiming our intentions, plug us into our center of peace. We become more aligned with Truth, and thus, become more of who we truly are.

Prayers are the echos of our inner being, a voice of our true nature.

We actually take refuge in our own capacity to become receptive to our own God Self, our own Christ Consciousness, our own Buddha Nature.

However, first, we need to believe that we are capable of godliness. This is difficult for many to accept. We are made in the image and likeness of God/Creator, hence, we all possess this God nature.

In each living being, there resides a God Self. A light, a consciousness, that is beyond the third-dimensional reality. It is in the realm of spirit, which is a non-physical dimension. We can’t see it, it’s non-tangible, yet we know it exists. We are asked to summon the trust, faith, and believe that God/Creator is omnipresent every moment of our lives. Not only to think it but to feel it. And believe it.

Hence, the importance of maintaining a strong alliance with our spiritual self. Once we have a glimpse of our sacredness and develop a connection with it, then it is up to us to maintain and expand it, allowing that inner holiness to radiate us and move us in ways that we didn’t think were possible.

As Mahatma Gandhi stated, “Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening.”

It’s the returning to trust and faith moment by moment which allows us to continually connect with the divine in ourselves, in others, in the Universe.

“Prayer, like meditation, influences our state of mind, which, in turn, influences our “state of body”. It reduces the experience of anxiety, elevates a depressed mood, lowers blood pressure, stabilizes sleep patterns and impacts autonomic functions like digestion and breathing. Further, in influencing our state of body-mind, prayer and meditation also influence our thinking. This prompts a shift in the habits of the mind, and, subsequently, patterns of behavior. These changes, in turn, and over time, induce changes in the brain, further influencing our subjective and objective experience of the world and how we participate in it.” 2

The only block to exposing our divine loveliness is our own patterns of thoughts, feelings, and reactions. For many, the blocks are dense and large. However, self-inquiry, introspection, and mindfulness are helpful tools in dissolving the veils of obscuration, allowing our true selves to emerge. It takes commitment, time and patience. And a love of self. For if we truly love ourselves, then nourishing our spiritual self is just as important as nourishing our physical self. Perhaps, even more important.

“I think we’re wired for the supernatural,” he says. “I think we’re meant to sense a world beyond our five senses. Come on! Taste and see that God really is good.” 3

God, Creator, Ja, whatever name you use, is really good. And prayer helps us connect to that goodness. My choice and hopefully yours is to permit this wonder and mystery to evolve and expand, to come home to that each day, and realign with our true nature, which is divine.

References

1. Michael J Formica MS, MA, EdM; “The Science, Psychology, and Metaphysics of Prayer”; psychologytoday.com,2010
2. Michael J Formica MS, MA, EdM; “The Science, Psychology, and Metaphysics of Prayer”;psychologytoday.com,2010
3. Scott McDermott, United Methodist minister; “Prayer May Reshape Your Brain … And Your Reality”;May 20, 200912:00 PM ET; All Things Considered, Barbara, Bradley Hagerty