The only thing we really need to know about prayer is that it works. Everything in the Universe is made up of the same energy – the plants, the trees, the rocks, you and me, thoughts, diseases, moons, stars; everything you can think of is made up of the same universal energy.

When we send out coherent thoughts, wishes, or prayers, they emanate into the entire universe and that energy has an effect.  Prayer is extremely powerful.  It is unbounded by space and time and unaffected by distance.

Prayer is generally a worded address to Spirit – whether spoken aloud or voiced in thought only.  Prayer may be communicated through images and symbols as well.  It is an act of communion commonly including hopes or requests.  When prayer focuses on a single theme – like peace – it comes near to the act of meditation.

Prayer is made in so many forms.  For some, it is conversation with God.  For others, it is making requests.  For some, it is asking for integrity or strength.  And for others, it is a giving of thanks.  Many people never pray for anything specific in life; they are simply drawn to a regular, daily saying of thank you in their prayers.

Prayer, according to Michael Bernard Beckwith, Founder and Spiritual Director of Agape International Spiritual Center, is the most powerful technology we have today.

Whatever you pray for, leave the means to the desired end in Spirit’s hands.  Spirit works in mysterious ways and we do not want to limit how what we’re praying for may occur.  If we limit ourselves by being too specific, we cut ourselves off from the unlimited, infinite creativity of the Universe.

Prayer is often reserved only for emergencies when no other “normal” means of assistance seem to have worked.  This indicates how materialistic our culture is, since prayer is not commonly included in our society’s tool bag we carry with us to work on our everyday challenges in life.

Prayer as an ongoing practice of gratitude, of affirmatively yet humbly asking for that which we are entitled to – because we are one with Spirit – puts us  in a place where we are swimming in the natural abundance of the universe.  Communication with Spirit gently and lovingly works the garden of our soul so we may heal and grow.