What I say here may sound pious and unrealistic, but it is not meant to be so. It relates to what I wrote a couple of days ago about the Law of Attraction and the power of thought – for that is what prayer is, using the power of thought and intent to contribute to an outcome. It is, rather, immensely pragmatic without being judgmental or didactic, or hopeless.
So much of prayer is, without meaning to be so, without hope – expressing a wish for something to happen in the future but not really believing it can happen: “I pray I will be healthy”, “I pray I will be wealthy”, “I pray God will forgive me” and meanwhile the present state of poverty or pain or guilt goes on as the aspiration for a future condition continues – keeping it always in the future. Prayer is all about the present, and it is not a request or supplication but a thanks and a trust, through the words in the present tense, that the change has happened already. Most people apply prayer to their own life or those important to them, but to pray for wider world situations, altruistically and simply, and without directing an outcome, can bring about extraordinary results.
For the places where there is hardship and danger through civil war or terrorism, like Syria or Mali or Algeria particularly today, prayer is much needed: if you feel like helping, you may wish, briefly, to thank Spirit for the perfect resolution to the conflicts, one which brings world peace and the cessation of suffering – for hostages, their families and many, many other people - according to the Plan of God. It is simple, but it works.
Claire Montanaro is a spiritual teacher, channel and blogger with special interest in esoteric philosophy and the world in transition. Loves nature and wildlife. Author of “Spiritual Wisdom”.
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The power of prayer is also a quantitatively documented fact. See Larry Dossey M.D.'s 1993 book *Healing Words*. Some of the quantitative research he cites is parapsychological in nature and essentially substantiates the thrust of your post, Claire.