Prayer: Questions and Answers about Prayer

Posted on October 7, 2009 
Filed Under Effective Thinking, Prayer & Meditation, The Belief Formula

Everyone knows something about prayer – whether they realize it or not. Even if you don’t use the word, “prayer,” the concept is an inescapable part of your daily life. Some people think they know how to pray and some think they don’t; but most people have only the understanding of prayer they were given as children. And that’s not a very clear – or deep – understanding of what prayer really is. Here are some of the more common questions and misconceptions I hear regarding prayer – along with some answers that might help you find a more useful or practical understanding of our spiritual nature and what and who we truly are.

Q. Do you have to be religious to pray?

A. Absolutely not. Prayer is thought; specifically, prayer is focused thought. And, we typically only focus our thoughts on those things that are truly important to us. Humans have always done this and, as a result, they’ve always found answers, guidance, deliverance, etc. The act of directing your thoughts inward – into your heart and mind – in order to change your situation in one way or another is older than any religion. Prayer isn’t the result of religion, in other words, religion is the result of prayer.

Q. Are my prayers answered because of my personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

A. Your thoughts about, and relationship with, Jesus might be very important to you, but they aren’t the reason your prayers are answered. If you’re a Christian, I assume you have at least seen a Bible. Prayer was a part of the Jewish culture – along with countless others – long before the time of Jesus. And prayers have always been answered – even for people who never heard of Jesus. This might challenge what you’ve been told, but you simply need to think about this for a moment to realize that Jesus didn’t invent prayer.

Q. Why are some prayers answered while others aren’t?

A. All prayers are answered in the same way; it only seems like the answer is sometimes, “No.” As children, we are given imagery of a parental figure that takes our requests and filters them through a set of standards and judgments that, coincidentally, match those of the people who give us these ideas (typically parents and clergy). Then, based on some sort of merit system or secret plan, the request is either approved or denied. It is very easy to imagine this if you are given this framework by parents who try to operate in this way. The truth is much simpler, yet much more difficult to understand. All you see is the product of that which you do not see. Prayer, or thought, always generates a response – even though we are looking for certain criteria to be met before we acknowledge it. The response is inside you; and, if you overcome your fear, you will be able to realize the manifestation of your prayer – in one form or another. Certain things, however, have already been set in motion; and there are laws by which nature operates. Nonetheless, it is true that all things are indeed possible if you believe and do not put parameters on the things you create with your mind.

Q. Why do bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people?

A. Things happen. Good and bad are simply judgments. And it is an assumption based on judgments and fantasy that one person is more or less likely than any other person to experience a particular event. However, to dwell on such things is to create a condition of stress which may in turn increase the likelihood that you will stumble into what you consider unfortunate circumstances.

Ultimately, it is done to each of us according to our thoughts and beliefs. You don’t have to believe any of these things; but you don’t have to believe what you were told growing up, either. Essentially, if it is done to you according to your beliefs, you need to choose whatever beliefs work best for you – God knows there are billions of different belief systems in the world anyway (approximately one per person). The most important thing is that you learn to think for yourself and believe in your dreams – whatever they are. No matter how you pray, you are never doing anything more than forming your desires into thoughts. Keep it simple and use common sense (fear not, judge not, be of good cheer, etc.); and your prayers will be answered. That’s the truth.

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