Meditation and Prayer

Your prayer causes you to focus,
and the Law of Attraction causes
everything in the Universe that’s
in vibrational harmony within your
focus to come to you.

Some would say that Prayer is talking to God and Meditation is listening to God.

I observe that Prayer, for many people, is very often an initiative to influence God's plans.  Most prayer I know about seems to be an attempt to suggest to God what we think should happen ... what is best for us.  For many people, I think, prayer involves a very active mind intent on achieving a particular outcome.  Typically, we pray for something specific ... a date with so-and-so, better health, a safe journey, a happy marriage, world peace, etc.. 

In contrast, I would offer that prayer can be correctly applied only to encouraging a greater conscious awareness of God at work in our lives; a greater awareness of how I may serve "highest and best good"
 

"Strive, through prayer and meditation, to maintain
a conscious contact with God (as we believe God to be)
... praying only for the knowledge of God's Will for us
and the power and resources to carry that out."  
Step 11, 12 Steps to Recovery
 

Meditation for me, by contrast, is about surrender (i.e. focusing on quiet mind, quieting your monkey mind) .  Meditation finds the natural quiet behind conscious mind.  I have experienced that meditation is a lovely, gentle way to directly experience my Higher Power.  My wife and I both have experienced that when we get ourselves (our egos) out of the way, God is automatically apparent.  Meditation as we know it is extremely simple; but, often (for us) it is not easy.  Meditation involves discipline, commitment, and a willingness to serve "something" bigger than ourselves.  We have each been meditating for over 30 years... twice each day.  We cannot seem to say enough good things about meditation.  If you haven't tried meditation we urge you to check it out at your earliest convenience. 

The effects of meditation are additive.  They are very often subtle.  They are always good and nothing but good.  Search the internet for various styles and techniques and try several until you find one or two that feel right for you.  You may also wish to contact us directly.  We would be happy to share our suggestions with you on a one-by-one, personal basis.  Please use our contact form.
 

There is another kind of activity that we would like to note.  It looks, at first glance, like prayer because it uses words in an active mind; yet, it seems a lot like meditation because it's sole purpose is to bring us more and more into lasting  conscious experience with our Higher Power.  We haven't put a label to it; but, studying "A Course in Miracles" is an example of such activity.  The Hawaiian tradition of "Ho'oponopono" is another.

As an aside, here is a prayer that was placed in a time capsule on the moon by astronaut Neil Armstrong.
It was written by a minister of the Unity Church,  Rev. James Dilet Freeman, in 1947

Do you need Me?
I am there.

You cannot see Me, yet I am the light you see by.
You cannot hear Me, yet I speak through your voice.
You cannot feel Me, yet I am the power at work in your hands.

I am at work, though you do not understand My ways.
I am at work, though you do not understand My works.
I am not strange visions. I am not mysteries.

Only in absolute stillness, beyond self, can you know Me
as I am, and then but as a feeling and a faith.

Yet I am there. Yet I hear. Yet I answer.
When you need Me, I am there.
Even if you deny Me, I am there.
Even when you feel most alone, I am there.
Even in your fears, I am there.
Even in your pain, I am there.

I am there when you pray and when you do not pray.
I am in you, and you are in Me.
Only in your mind can you feel separate from Me, for
only in your mind are the mists of "yours" and "mine."
Yet only with your mind can you know Me and experience Me.

Empty your heart of empty fears.
When you get yourself out of the way, I am there.
You can of yourself do nothing, but I can do all.
And I am in all.

Though you may not see the good, good is there, for
I am there. I am there because I have to be, because I am.

Only in Me does the world have meaning;
only out of Me does the world take form;
only because of Me does the world go forward.
I am the law on which the movement of the stars
and the growth of living cells are founded.

I am the love that is the law's fulfilling.
I am assurance.
I am peace.
I am oneness.
I am the law that you can live by.
I am the love that you can cling to.
I am your assurance.
I am your peace.
I am ONE with you.
I am.

Though you fail to find Me, I do not fail you.
Though your faith in Me is unsure,
My faith in you never wavers,
because I know you, because I love you.

Beloved, I AM there.

4 simple prayers
 

 I have them memorized and say them at least once each morning.
I like using them in the framework of scientific prayer described below.

I go forth this day ... In all things immersed in God and God's abundance.  The conquering Christ in me stands forth one with God's abundance and in every activity of this day.  God, God, God, the great flame of Love flows through every atom of my being.  I AM the pure golden flame of Love and I pour this flame into my physical reality.  The Christ in me salutes you God, my father ... Peace, Peace, Peace, the great Peace of God prevails.

I am in the palm of God's Hand... far beyond the stars ... where God's light fills me, until I appreciate my Oneness with God.  God you are myself.  Your light fills my days with never-ending sunshine.  Your love fills my heart with such Joy, that tears of Joy fill my heart and my heart EXPLODES with Love.  God, I know you are myself.  There is no place in time or space where you and I are not one.  God I love you.  And I know that you love me.  No greater love exists than this.  My heart is Thine.


_{This Holy Instant would I give to You.  Be you in charge for I would follow You... certain your direction gives peace to me.  If I need a thought, a word, a deed, a feeling, or an impression, these are things You give to me.  And if I need but stillness and an open, tranquil mind, these also do you give to me.  You are in charge by my request and You will hear and answer me.  For you speak for God, my father, and his Holy Child.}

To Thee I surrender my whole being.  A vessel emptied of self.  Accept Oh Lord, this my emptiness and so fill me with ThySelf... Thy Love; Thy Light; Thy Life.  That these thy precious gifts may radiate thru me ... Overflowing the chalice of my heart into the hearts and minds of all those with whom I come  in contact this day.  Revealing unto them the beauty of Thy Joy and Wholeness and the serenity of Thy Peace which nothing can destroy.

 

The process:
 

1. Declare the existence of a Higher Power
2. Declare your Oneness with your Higher Power
3. Put in your request
4. Imagine yourself receiving your request
5. Let go of all attachment to the (anticipated) outcome of your prayer
6. Show gratitude.  Say thank you
7. Sign off
8. Go about your day

1. There is but one God in all creation ... with Power and Resources such none is greater, none is more Loving.
2. I am a child of this Loving God.  Created in God's image.  Complete and healed and whole.  Perfect in every way.  Like a drop is to the ocean, I am one with God.  Like the drop is to the ocean I am like the ocean in every respect; but, I am not the ocean.
3. I now respectfully pray (for healing of myself/another; for a new car; for a new friend; for a safe journey; for more abundance in my life; etc.) and look forward to Your Response.
4. With positive expectation, I now imagine what my life will be like when I receive my prayerful request.  (Helps to close my eyes and associate with the feelings of Joy and Peace etc. that I anticipate upon having my prayers answered.)
5. Not my will God but Thine.  This or something better. (my Higher Power is concerned with Highest and Best Good for all ... not just for me.)
6. Thank you God.  Thank you for hearing me ... now and always.
7. Amen
8. After prayer, I move my feet.  That is I take action in the direction of my prayers.  this is just as important as the other steps.  God works through me (and others). God needs our hands and minds and bodies to give His responses substance.